Robert Zaytoun

Moore question's Perdue's question

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:38:45 -0400

Richard Moore says Beverly Perdue's campaign has used state resources.

In a letter to state Auditor Les Merritt, Moore's campaign manager, Jay Reiff, charges that Perdue's chief of staff has been running her unofficial gubernatorial campaign.

"The lieutenant governor's attack today is the height of hypocrisy and phoniness," he said in a statement.

He notes that Perdue's campaign manager, Zach Ambrose, had only recently been her chief of staff in the lieutenant governor's office, and said her campaign chair, Robert Zaytoun, recently submitted extensive records requests to the Treasurer's office.

Zaytoun also is a member of the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission, Reiff notes.

The letter asks Merritt to look into Perdue's use of state property, the State Highway Patrol, phone lines, and her office, among other things, for her campaign.

Previously: Perdue asks auditor to look into Moore's office.

Document(s):
moore-merritt.pdf

Fighting words

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:14:08 -0400

The attorney who prosecuted Mike Nifong is behind a new movie.

Robert Zaytoun, a Wake County lawyer appointed to prosecute the Durham district attorney, is executive producer of the new movie, "Fighting Words."

Given his legal background, you might be expecting a little courtroom drama, maybe even a little Duke lacrosse-style "The Bonfire of the Vanities" intrigue.

But the film is actually about ... slam poetry. From the press release:

The film stars Jeff Stearns in his big-screen debut as Jake, a young poet who attracts the attention of Marni (Tara D'Agostino), a publisher on the hunt for new talent. As Jake struggles to find his voice, Marni struggles with a dark personal secret. The two conflicts come to a head when Jake competes against Marni's former boyfriend (played by C. Thomas Howell) in a high-stakes slam poetry competition.

The movie will have two special showings at the Galaxy Cinema in Cary at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with Zaytoun and director Paul Edwards. It will also have a regular run at the theater.

Raleigh lawyers for Edwards (and not)

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:00:00 -0400

It's not surprising that Raleigh lawyers by and large support John Edwards' campaign.

After all, he used to be one.

A quick look at Edwards' most recent campaign filing shows that he raised at least $98,650 from attorneys who live in Raleigh. (Not to mention their spouses, who often gave as well.)

The list includes his former partners, Wade Smith and David Kirby, natch, but also such notable local esquires as Burley Mitchell, Robert Zaytoun, Ed Turlington and Richard Gammon. In all, at least 42 lawyers contributed.

It's also worth noting which Raleigh lawyers gave to another Democrat:

* To Barack Obama: $1,000 from Michelle Cunningham and $2,300 from William Spruill, both of Alston & Bird LLP.

* To Hillary Clinton: $2,300 from Bruce Thompson of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein.

And on the Republican side:

* To John McCain: $2,000 from Peter Hans of Helms Mulliss & Wicker PLLC and $1,000 from Robert Sumner of Cranfill Sumner and Hartzog LLP.

* To Mike Huckabee: $1,000 from Anthony Biller of Coats & Bennett LLC, $1,000 from Camden Webb and $250 from Ronald Rogers, both of Williams Mullen Maupin Taylor.

* To Rudy Giuliani: $250 from Jeffrey Poley of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice.