According to this AP article in the Virginia Pilot (online), as a result of a complaint filed by the liberal advocacy group Democracy NC, a majority of North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBOE) members are interested in opening a campaign investigation into political donations from the operators of sweepstakes games during the 2012 election.
The five member board is set to meet by teleconference on Tuesday, April 30 at 9 a.m. to discuss this issue. It is a public meeting; to access the meeting call: 1-213-289-0012 use: Access Code: 639160343.
While the current SBOE may call for an investigation into campaign contributions, it is doubtful that they will hear evidence, seeing that their terms are set to expire on May 1, 2013 or whenever their successors are appointed. According to NCGS § 163‑19
The State Board of Elections shall consist of five registered voters whose terms of office shall begin on May 1, 1969, and shall continue for four years, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The Governor shall appoint the members of this Board and likewise shall appoint their successors every four years at the expiration of each four-year term. Not more than three members of the Board shall be members of the same political party. The Governor shall appoint the members from a list of nominees submitted to him by the State party chairman of each of the two political parties having the highest number of registered affiliates as reflected by the latest registration statistics published by the State Board of Elections. Each party chairman shall submit a list of five nominees who are affiliated with that political party.
After the Governor’s appointments are made, they will then be required to appoint a Director. Gary Bartlett, the current director, has been in the job for 20 years. (NCGS § 163‑27)
As always the liberal media refers to Bob Hall and his group as “Watchdogs.” Seeing that Michael Biesecker, one of the reporters for the AP article, was formerly a reporter for the News and Observer, he knows very well that Hall is a liberal activist, registered lobbyist and executive director of a group that was an original member of the now infamous Blueprint NC organization. You will remember that Blueprint NC was the source of a recently leaked strategy memo that exposed the game of how a coalition of liberal non-profits will “attack” elected officials in North Carolina. Hall’s work with Bartlett and the SBOE has produced a collection of some of the most liberal laws in the land.
It is fitting that one of the last actions this Board will take is initiated by Bob Hall. He has been a behind-the-scenes driving force at the State Board of Elections (SBE) – even to mapping out partisan attacks on Republican legislators to the extent that it is hard to tell where the SBE ends and Democracy NC begins. As you read more about this case it will help to remember that Bob Hall won’t be happy until all of North Carolina’s political campaigns are financed by the government – that is – your tax dollars.
Two questions
- Will Gary Bartlett stay or will he go? It will be up to the new SBOE.
- What will Bob Hall do without the majority of the SBOE members and the Director in his back pocket?
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