KEYNOTERS ANONYMOUS: The state Democratic Party holds its annual fundraiser, gabfest and politicking party, the Vance-Aycock dinner this weekend in Asheville. After a nail-biting delay, organizers finally announced the keynote speaker, Jean Carnahan, who served as a U.S. Senator from Missouri for two years. After last year's dinner, which featured an appearance by then-candidate Barack Obama, this year's event promises to be a veritable "Who's That?" of Democratic politics.

AROUND THE WORLD: State Sen. Steve Goss, a Boone Democrat, had to correct his campaign finance reports this week to reflect that he did not incur $19,000 worth of mileage reimbursements in a four-month period. That amount of driving would have taken the senator around the world nearly twice. Hope he gets good gas mileage.

BRING IT ON: The State Board of Elections announced plans to hold a hearing into the campaign finance irregularities of former Democratic Gov. Mike Easley. Gov. Beverly Perdue was quick to issue a statement welcoming the hearings. The statement seemed designed to accomplish two goals: 1) re-inforce Perdue's pledge to keep government clean. 2) Remind voters that she is not Easley.

IN OTHER NEWS: Treasurer Janet Cowell updates her office's ethics policy. New laws take effect, including one that legalizes affairs for couples who are all-but divorced. The Wake County Democratic chairman cautions would-be seekers of a state House seat that keeping the job is going to require some serious fundraising.

Rep. Ty Harrell, a Raleigh Democrat who has been under investigation over his campaign expenditures, submitted his resignation Sunday.

Harrell said he needs to focus attention on answering questions about his campaign finances and on his young sons, as he and his wife are in the midst of divorce proceedings.

“The people of District 41, and all citizens of North Carolina, deserve representatives who can make clearly-focused decisions on their behalf,” Harrell wrote in a letter to House Speaker Joe Hackney. “With the recent turbulence in my personal life and continued speculation about my campaign expenditures, I do not feel that I can provide the high standard of representation that my constituents expect and deserve.”

Hackney asked the Legislative Ethics Committee to investigate Harrell’s finances on Sept. 9, after the State Board of Elections began an audit of campaign expenses. Harrell’s campaign expense report for January through June of this year showed an unusual number of expenses for a year with no election. Many of the expenses were to restaurants at a time when Harrell had no source of income other than his nearly $14,000 legislative salary. In an earlier report, he listed paying $235 to a pricey children's clothing store and $191 to Sharon Luggage, with both identified as a "committee meeting."

The descriptions of the expenses often were listed as “donor recruitment,” “strategy meeting” or other explanations that the elections board found insufficient. The elections board’s staff has since asked for more than 200 pieces of additional information on Harrell’s filings, an unusually large request.

With Democratic state Rep. Ty Harrell facing questions about his use of campaign money, his Republican challenger is looking at making another run at him.

Apex Town Councilman Bryan Gossage says he is taking a careful look at challenging Harrell again in 2010, Rob Christensen reports.

"Our message last year was that the liberal tax, borrow, and spend policies of the incumbent were wrong for the district and wrong for the state," Gossage said in a statement. "Unfortunately, higher taxes and unemployment numbers are some of the best proof of that."

Harrell defeated Gossage by a 54-46 percent margin in a strongly Democratic year in 2008. House District 41, which includes parts of Apex and Cary, is regarded as a swing district. Harrell won the district in 2006 by defeating six-term Republican Russell Capps. The Legislative Ethics Committee and State Board of Elections are investigating Harrell's use of campaign funds.

State Rep. Ty Harrell, whose most recent campaign report is under scrutiny by the State Board of Elections and the Legislative Ethics Committee, included an interesting expense in his fourth quarter report for 2008.

Harrell listed $235.92 for "operating expense" for a "committee meeting" paid to the Lamb's Ear at North Hills mall in Raleigh.

Lamb's Ear is not a restaurant but a pricey children's clothing store: "Everything your child needs from casual wear to formal events, shoes to gloves for Cotillion," the web site boasts. 

The State Board of Elections and the Legislative Ethics Committee are taking a look at the campaign expenditures of state Rep. Ty Harrell, a Raleigh Democrat.

Of particular interest are Harrell's expenditures from January through June of this year, the middle of a non-election year when there is typically little campaign activity for legislative candidates. But Harrell listed several expenditures at high-end restaurants in Raleigh and elsehwere.

Harrell said Wednesday that the meetings were to talk about re-election efforts and "putting together the infrastructure to run for higher office."

Jan. 2: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, committee planning meeting - $146.06

Jan. 6: P.F. Chang's China Bistro, meeting with volunteers - $58.80

Jan. 10: The Oceanic, Wrightsville Beach, event meeting with donors - $87.10

Jan. 22: 18 Seaboard, planning meeting - $83.15

Jan. 29: 18 Seaboard, planning meeting - $66.68

Jan. 31: Duck and Dumpling, planning and strategy meeting - $84.50

Feb. 8: 18 Seaboard, volunteer event - $90.96

Feb. 12: Sushi Blues, committee event - $95.91

Feb. 15: Shaba Shabu, donor cultivation - $57.52

Feb. 26: 18 Seaboard, donor cultivation - $56.33

Feb. 27: Globe Restaurant, donors meeting - $56.87

March 19: 18 Seaboard, donors meeting and planning - $83.57

March 24: 1705 Prime Chophouse, donor cultivation - $54.18

March 27: Maggiano's, Durham, committee meeting - $85.33

The next three months, after the jump.

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Sen. David Weinstein, a Lumberton Democrat, has been appointed to the Legislative Ethics Committee.

The committee consists of six Republicans and six Democrats who set ethical guidelines for legislators and offer guidance on potential conflicts of interests. The group has drawn more attention in recent years with the enactment of new ethics laws and several high profile ethics cases.

"Now, more than ever, it is necessary for a bipartisan effort to self-police," Weinstein said in a statement.

Weinstein, 72, is a retired merchant serving his seventh term. He was appointed to the committee by Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Manteo.

Weinstein replaces Sen. Steve Goss, a Democrat from Boone, who moved up to co-chairman of the committee after the death of Sen. Vernon Malone, a Raleigh Democrat.

UPDATE: An astute Dome reader points out a certain disconnect between Weinstein's appointment to the committee that polices the legislature's ethics and his recent comment to the Fayetteville Observer. Weinstein, explaining that it is unlikely he will run for re-election, added: "It's not as fun as it used to be, all that -- the ethics, and the people report anything you do. They always report the bad things, not the good things, and we do a lot of good things."

A lobbyist who offered to get a constituent's debt forgiven may have committed a felony.

A May 6 report sent to members of the General Assembly notes that state law "prohibits a legislator from knowingly, directly or indirectly, accepting or agreeing to receive anything of value for another person" in return for legislative actions.

The opinion from the joint Legislative Ethics Committee also says that the lawmaker does not have to proceed with the legislation because of the potential conflict caused by the attempted bribe.

"A legislator may choose not to proceed with the legislation," it says. "Each chamber has a procedure to excuse a legislator from deliberations and voting on a bill. The legislator may ask another sponsor to proceed with the legislation."

Previously: Report says lobbyist tried to bribe legislator. 

After the jump, the text of the opinion.

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