A conservation group is asking Gov. Bev Perdue to investigate whether political campaign contributions and influence played a part in how members of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission got their seats.

The N.C. Wildlife Federation said testimony during the State Board of Elections hearing into former Gov. Mike Easley suggested that former commission member Gary Allen might have offered big donations to the N.C. Democratic Party. in exchange for keeping his seat on the commission, which regulates hunting and fishing.

"If these allegations prove true," said Tim Gestwicki, executive director of the federation, "We call upon Governor Perdue to immediately demand the resignations of any individuals who were appointed under such inappropriate circumstances. She should then appoint duly qualified, representative citizens to serve out any replaced terms."

The State Board of Elections hearing is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Former Gov. Mike Easley is expected to testify.

News & Observer photojournalists Shawn Rocco and Chris Seward have produced a photo gallery from Tuesday's action.

Photojournalist Travis Long has produced a video clip in which developer Gary Allen can't remember very much about writing $50,000 checks.

Gary Allen, a developer, doesn't remember anything about writing two $50,000 checks to the N.C. Democratic Party.

Lanny Wilson, a friend and business associate to Allen, testified Monday that he briefed former Gov. Mike Easley on a list of things Allen wanted including his seat on the Wildlife Commission and a permit for a boat dock.

Wilson testified that an inner circle of big Easley donors understood that big checks to the party would go directly to Easley's campaign.

Allen, a Charlotte native who now lives in Florida, said he doesn't remember talking to the governor about his permit or any circumstances around writing the checks.

"I don't recall the real details on it," Allen said. "Over the course of those years and a few years before, I've made many contributions, not only to candidates and the Democratic Party, but a lot of nonprofits as well. I don't recall the specifics of that."

Nearly every answer Allen gave during his testimony Tuesday began with the words, "I don't recall."

The first day of the State Board of Elections hearing included plenty of big moments.

Here are four highlights of today's testimony.

HOUSE WORK: Gov. Mike Easley had problems with the renters in his Raleigh home. He asked his friend and political supporter, McQueen Campbell to take care of it. Twice Campbell fixed up the house at a cost of $11,000 or more. Campbell testified that when he asked Easley for money, he understood the governor wanted him to file a false invoice for a flight.

WASN'T ME: Easley's defense may be geared around putting blame on others. Easley's lawyer took pains to point out that Easley never told Campbell to falsify invoices and that Easley's campaign didn't pay for flights because Campbell never submitted invoices for them.

WISH LIST: Fundraiser Lanny Wilson briefed Easley on a host of helpful facts to get him ready for his meeting with Gary Allen, a Charlotte fundraiser. Easley needed to know that Allen wanted to keep his seat on the Wildlife Commission and was trying to get a permit for a boat dock. The meeting went well. Allen gave $50,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party.

PARTY MAN: Easley fundraisers said they were told by Easley's campaign that big checks given to the party would go to the Easley campaign. The message was delivered Wilson said, by Easley attorney and aide Ruffin Poole.

A eastern North Carolina developer, fundraiser and Board of Transportation member testified that he gave checks to the Democratic Party that he expected to be in turn given to former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign.

Lanny Wilson said he and his wife wrote checks to the Easley campaign and were told to re-write the checks for the N.C. Democratic Party.

"It was my understanding that they would flow through the state Democratic Party and the Easley Committee would pay expenses," Wilson said.

Wilson said representatives of the Easley campaign told him it was legal to write checks to the party that were meant for Easley.

State law limits contributions to a candidate to $4,000 per election cycle. There is no limit on contributions to a political party, but checks cannot be designated for a specific purpose.

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