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."
Here are the expenses Harrell reported at restaurants during the first half of the year and the stated purpose for the expense. Unless noted, all the restaurants are in Raleigh.
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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April 3: Bocci, Durham, donor recruitment - $79.98
April 16: Solas, committee event - $75.94
April 17: The Flying Biscut Cafe, donor cultivation - $56.16
April 19: Firebirds, Charlotte, donor meeting - $58.12
April 20: City Tavern, Charlotte, donor recruitment - $52
April 23: 18 Seaboard, committee event - $90
April 28: 518 West, donor meeting - $57.92
April 29: The Flying Biscuit, donor meeting - $50.34
April 30: McCormick & Schmick's, planning meeting - $79.46
May 19: P.F. Chang's China Bistro, planning meeting - $55.95
June 5: Michael Dean's, meeting with donors - $78.51
June 11: Amra's, planning event - $74.38
June 18: McCormick & Schmick's, strategic planning and communications - $78.35
Comments
Re: Dining with Ty Harrell
September 10, 2009 - 4:01pm — j1c2kpCan he provide documentation for each 'dinner meeting' of attendees? Also, will there be a ethics investigation for RC Soles? And what did they ever decide about him shooting the guy??
Re: Dining with Ty Harrell
September 10, 2009 - 3:23pm — michaelunc2009Is he not a fan of dining or having meetings in his own district?
Re: Dining with Ty Harrell
September 10, 2009 - 3:09pm — cdtewWow. A few months back I suggested to RTB that we get a log of where our favorite politicians dine out. Apparently, DOME has answered our request in spades...
Re: Dining with Ty Harrell
September 10, 2009 - 1:04pm — KingixolibCareer politicians breed corruption and lies. Vote them out or they and their cronies either die in or retire from office.
Option one....you win
Option two....you lose