Perdue picks replacement for Sewell

Gov. Bev Perdue picked a Jacksonville auto dealer to replace Board of Transportation member Louis Sewell Jr.

Michael K. Alford is Perdue’s 11th pick for a vacant seat on the state board, which oversees policy for the N.C. Department of Transportation, Bruce Siceloff reports on his Crosstown Traffic blog.

After Alford's name is reviewed by members of a legislative oversight committee, he is expected to take an at-large seat dedicated to rural transportation needs.

He will succeed Sewell, a developer and part-owner of the Golden Corral restaurants, who resigned in 2008 after The News & Observer reported that he had steered DOT money to road projects near commercial property he or his son owned.

Sewell, a registered Republican, was a major fundraiser for Perdue, a Democrat, as well as former Democratic Gov. Mike Easley. 

State election records show that Alford, a registered Democrat and president of Marine Chevrolet, has contributed to a number of Democratic and Republican political campaigns. He gave $4,000 to the campaign of Perdue in 2008, and $2,000 to Easley in 2000.

—————

Republican benefactors of Alford’s campaign contributions include the Republican National Committee ($2,500 in 2008), U.S. Rep. Walter Jones ($1,500 from 2003 to 2005), and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Dole ($250 in 2002) and Richard Burr ($1,000 in 2004).

In 2000 Alford gave $1,000 to Jones’ Democratic challenger, Leigh Harvey McNairy of Kinston, whom Perdue appointed to the Board of Transportation last year. 

Correction: A previous version of this post misstated who McNairy challenged in 2000.