Drew Saunders

Rep. Saunders' work helps lobbyist Saunders

markjohnson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:41:26 -0500

Former Rep. Drew Saunders gets to start lobbying six months after he leaves office instead of a year after stepping down, thanks to a change in the law that he pushed through.

Saunders lost in the May Democratic primary to Rep.-elect Nick Mackey. He resigned his Mecklenburg County seat on October 31 to take a $110,000-a-year job with Electricities, a non-profit umbrella group for municipal power companies. He said that job likely will include lobbying. The state ethics law requires that Saunders not lobby until six months after he leaves office, which would be May.

That's six months sooner than the original version of the ethics bill proposed in 2006. The cooling off period was shortened to six months thanks to a proposal pushed by, drumroll please, then-Rep. Drew Saunders. At the time, he complained that the ethics bill "treats legislators like dirt." This was around the same time that Saunders criticized the bill's ban on lobbyists giving gifts to legislators by saying: " Even the baby Jesus accepted gifts, and I don't think it corrupted him."

Saunders on Wednesday said he "certainly didn't anticipate" his new job when he proposed the shorter cooling off period. His criticism of the ethics bill arose from his human resources background, as he didn't think lawmakers should restrict how former legislators sustain themselves, he said.

"We were down there talking about jobs, jobs, jobs," Saunders said, "and then we're restricting people on how they make a living."

SEANC announces endorsements

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:11:44 -0400

The State Employees Assocation of N.C. announced its endorsements in legislative primary races.

The group, which represents 55,000 state workers, endorsed 13 candidates for the state House and 12 candidates for state Senate through its political action committee.

Seven of the candidates are Republicans: Rep. Jeff Barnhart; House candidates George Shaeffer, Sidney Sandy, Nalin Mehta and Shirley Randleman; and Sens. Fletcher Hartsell and Jim Jacumin.

In two cases, it endorsed candidates running against each other: state Sen. Vern Malone and rival Ann Akland; and Senate candidates Jack Nichols and Josh Stein.

In the House, the PAC also endorsed Reps. Angela Bryant, Edith Warren and Drew Saunders and candidates Robert Richardson, Greg Taylor, Charles Graham, Betty Mangum and Ric Marshall.

In the Senate, it endorsed Sens. Floyd McKissick, Ellie Kinnaird, Katie Dorsett and Steve Goss and candidates Shelly Willingham and Chuck Stone.

"We're happy to be able to support candidates who care about quality public services and the employees who work so hard to make this state one of the best places to live," said PAC chairwoman Paula Schubert in a statement.

Moore's political contributors: $18,400

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:20:41 -0500

Richard Moore has received $18,400 from other politicians' campaign funds since 2005.

According to campaign finance reports filed since his 2004 re-election as state treasurer, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate received donations from 14 campaigns.

The top contributors were state Rep. Pryor Gibson and Rep. Gordon Allen, who each gave $4,000. Former Gov. Jim Hunt gave $3,000. Rep. Drew Saunders and Sen. Doug Berger gave $2,000 apiece, and Pitt County Commissioner Bob Ramey gave $1,000.

Moore received $500 donations from Rep. Arthur Williams, Rep. Lucy Allen, Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand and Cumberland County school board member Frank Barragan.

He also received money from Surry County Sheriff Connie Ray Watson, District Attorney Howard Boney and Fayetteville City Council members Curtis Worthy and D.J. Haire.

Campaign discrepancies found

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Three legislators did not report more than $10,000 in donations.

According to a survey of Mecklenburg County lawmakers by The Charlotte Observer, Huntersville Democratic Rep. Drew Saunders' reports did not include $15,250 in donations that political action committees reported giving him.

Rep. Beverly Earle, a Charlotte Democrat running for mayor, did not report $10,700.

Sen. Bill Purcell, a Laurinburg Democrat, did not report $10,000. He was one of a handful of legislators from other parts of the state included in the survey as part of random sample.

The missing money could be simply bookkeeping errors. But Bob Hall, research director for the nonpartisan Democracy North Carolina, said there were "too many examples" to dismiss them as simply carelessness.

Politicians' donations

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:54:01 -0400

Former House Speaker Jim Black gave $5,500 to the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus Foundation between 1995 and 2005.

The Mecklenburg Democrat gave annual donations of between $500 and $1,000 to the nonprofit during those years, according to campaign finance records.

Other politicians whose campaign committees reported giving money to the caucus foundation include Gov. Mike Easley, Treasurer Richard Moore, Insurance Commissioner Jim Long and Huntersville Rep. Drew Saunders, all Democrats.

Easley's $500 donations in 2001 and 2002 and Moore's $500 donations in 2001 and 2003 are listed as "sponsorship" or "event tickets," most likely for the group's annual banquet. Long's $500 donation in 2003, Saunders' two $500 donations in 2006 and Black's donations are listed as "contributions."

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue listed an $80 donation in 2000 and a $25 donation in 2005, both for event tickets.

May Day mayday

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:22:29 -0400

Rep. Drew Saunders wished everyone a happy May Day with a little history lesson.

As the House session drew to a close, the Huntersville Democrat shared some of the various meanings ascribed to May 1 over the years.

It's been, he noted, "a celebration of spring, a day of political protest, neo-pagan festivals, a saint's feast day, a day for organized labor and national holidays in many countries." (Based on the wording, his source is probably this Web site.)

Saunders also relayed an anecdote about an aircraft carrier which supposedly called for help on May 1, 1927, inspiring the phrase "mayday."

(That appears to be an urban wiki-legend. The American Heritage College Dictionary says it comes from the French, venez m'aider, meaning "come help me.")

He ended by wishing Rep. Phil Haire, a May Day baby, a happy birthday.