Civitas Calls for Election Board Probe of North Carolina Democratic Party Finances

April 19, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jim Tynen (919) 834-2099
James.Tynen@NCCivitas.org

Raleigh, N.C. – The Civitas Institute today called for the State Board of Elections to investigate the source of funds reportedly involved in a non-disclosure agreement in connection with an alleged sexual harassment case at the North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP).

“I am requesting that the State Board of Elections investigate the source of funds used by the NCDP to arrange a reported financial settlement in connection with an alleged case of sexual harassment at the NCDP,” Civitas President Francis De Luca wrote in a letter to Gary Bartlett, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections.

De Luca noted that the state provides the party with taxpayer money ‑ over $331,000 in 2011. “The Civitas Institute’s mission includes not only educating citizens but also keeping watch on how the state spends hardworking taxpayers’ money,” De Luca wrote.

Civitas also called for the Board to investigate any and all other aspects of how the settlement was paid for. “It is vital that the hardworking taxpayers of North Carolina be assured that no taxpayer check-off funds, illegal contributions or other prohibited funds were used for these purposes, and that any money involved was handled in an accountable and transparent manner,” De Luca wrote.

A copy of the letter is included below.

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Gary Bartlett, Executive Director
State Board of Elections
PO Box 27255
Raleigh, NC 27611

Hand Delivered

April 19, 2012

Dear Mr. Bartlett,

I am requesting that the State Board of Elections investigate the source of funds used by the North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) to arrange a reported financial settlement in connection with an alleged case of sexual harassment at the NCDP. It has been widely reported in state and national media that such a settlement was made, and that the sexual harassment incident has been kept from public view by a non-disclosure agreement linked to the financial settlement.

The state of North Carolina provides taxpayer funds directly to political parties in North Carolina, which in this case was over $331,000 to the NCDP in 2011 according to the “Political Parties Financing Fund Annual Report Verification” filed 12/22/11. It is vital that the hardworking taxpayers of North Carolina be assured that no taxpayer check-off funds, illegal contributions or other prohibited funds were used for these purposes, and that any money involved was handled in an accountable and transparent manner.

If any such prohibited funds were used, or if the NCDP failed to properly report funding of any kind, the NCDP should be required to report the transaction with the State Board of Elections so the public can have access to the information.

The Civitas Institute’s mission includes not only educating citizens but also keeping watch on how the state spends hardworking taxpayers’ money.

I think that all organizations and individuals who report to the SBOE or rely on accurate and timely reporting due to your efforts would benefit from an investigation and clarification.

We appreciate your help in this effort.

Sincerely,

Francis X. De Luca
Colonel, USMCR(Ret)
President
JWP Civitas Institute

cc:        Kim Strach, State Board of Elections
Susan Nichols, NC Department of Justice