John Kerr III

Niece gave different answers on job

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:23:56 -0500

In September, when The N&O interviewed the niece of Greene County patronage boss Eddie Carroll Thomas about how she had gotten a job as a state Division of Motor Vehicles examiner, she denied that her uncle had anything to do with it.

"I just saw it online and I applied," said Vanessa Gordon, who works in the Greenville office. She added that "I did contact (state) Sen. John Kerr, and he's the one who told me to apply for the job."

Two weeks later, she told DMV internal investigators looking into Thomas' influence in DMV jobs that she was told to drop Kerr's name. She told them Vickie Keel, another examiner who had also been helped by Thomas, wanted Gordon to say that, Dan Kane reports.

"Vickie Keel had instructed Ms. Gordon to tell the reporter that she got assistance through Senator John Kerr when she applied for her job," the DMV investigative report said. "Ms. Gordon assumed that her uncle [Mr. Thomas] told Ms. Keel to tell her to say that."

Gordon, 38, was hired in May 2006, and makes roughly $32,000 a year. She told investigators that she had given Thomas her job application. She did not know what effect that may have had in getting her the job.

More after the jump.

The Senate Class of 2008

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:24:26 -0500

The Senate class of 2008 has some big shoes to fill.

For the most part, the freshman senators are taking the seats of lawmakers who went on to higher offices — or at least ran for higher office.

The five (or six, depending on your definition) may face higher expectations as a result.

Here's a quick look at the new senators-elect:

Don Vaughan (D): A politically active Greensboro attorney who served seven terms on the City Council will be taking the seat of U.S. Sen.-elect Kay Hagan.

David Rouzer (R): A former aide to U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms from McGee's Crossroads will take over the Johnston County seat of unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith.

Debbie Clary (R): The state representative from Cherryville, the sole Republican win from its November wishlist, will take the seat of Lt. Gov.-elect Walter Dalton.

Josh Stein (D): A well-connected Raleigh lawyer who worked for John Edwards' in D.C. and served as deputy attorney general will be taking the Raleigh seat of Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell.

Don Davis (D): An Air Force veteran, college professor and the popular (and youngest ever) mayor of Snow Hill will be taking the seat of retiring Sen. John Kerr III.

Bob Rucho (R): A former four-term state senator, appointed to unsuccessful lieutenant governor candidate Robert Pittenger's seat in June, is already running for a leadership role.

Correction: An earlier version misstated the length of Vaughan's tenure.

Related: The House Class of 2008

Donnan beats Brooks in labor runoff

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:45:08 -0400

Mary Fant Donnan won by a two-to-one margin.

The Winson-Salem Democrat sewed up the nomination for labor commissioner in a runoff primary held today.

With all 100 counties reporting, Donnan has 43,217 votes, or 68 percent. Former labor commissioner John C. Brooks has 20,445, or 32 percent. She now faces incumbent Republican Cherie Berry in November.

Turnout was a paltry 1.9 percent.

In a runoff for the Democratic nomination in state Senate District 5, Don Davis beat Kathy Taft, 63 percent to 37 percent. The seat is currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. John Kerr III.

Davis, the mayor of Snow Hill, had slightly edged Taft, a member of the State Board of Education, in a six-way race in the May primary, but failed to garner a majority. He now faces four-term Rep. Louis Pate, a Wayne County Republican.

And in a runoff for the Republican nomination in state House District 67, Justin Burr defeated Rep. Ken Furr, 58 to 42 percent. Burr had slightly edged Furr in a three-way race on May 6.

Furr was appointed to the seat in August of 2007 after former Rep. David Almond resigned. Burr faces no opposition in November.