Carolina Politics Online

COLUMBIA — Racism in the state Highway Patrol doesn’t come as a shock, black leaders say, but now the NAACP says it’s time to find just how widespread it is.The call for a state Senate investigation comes Monday as the fallout from two recently surfaced videos involving white troopers and black residents continued to send ripples through the state. Meanwhile, more joined the chorus of voices calling for the troopers involved to hand in their resignations or be fired.

The Post and Courier

Legitimate incidents of racism should be investigated, however the state needs to be careful that this doesn’t turn into a witch hunt over frivolous allegations. The NAACP is not the most credible organization in today’s day and age.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate proposed creating the Endowment for Positive Gubernatorial Campaigns — a $50 million trust fund that would pay for campaigns that avoid negative ads, address “major issues” and agree to a series of debates.

“The people of North Carolina, like the rest of the nation, are losing trust in the political system,” she said in a statement. “The perception of corruption and a ‘pay to play’ environment has led to the belief that ordinary citizens do not have as much influence in politics as the rich and powerful.”

The proposal is based on former state Sen. Wib Gulley’s 1995 bill, which was praised by Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, and a similar endowment for Congressional campaigns proposed by U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold and Vice President Al Gore.

A bipartisan board of 12 individuals appointed by legislative leaders would run the endowment, select the major issues and determine if candidates had qualified with signatures and small donations.

Participating campaigns would not be allowed to use personal wealth or spend additional money on advertising.

The News & Observer

I don’t see how such a law would pass Constitutional muster being that it’s a limit on political speech protected by the First Amendment.  Furthermore, why should taxpayers be footing the bill for a politician’s political campaign?  The more I hear from Perdue, the more I am convinced she would be a disaster as governor.

RALEIGH - The Easley administration today fired Debbie Crane, the state official who handled News & Observer reporters’ requests for information as they worked on a series about mental health.

Crane, 48, who was public affairs director at the state Department of Health and Human Services, said department secretary Dempsey Benton told her yesterday that Gov. Mike Easley “wanted me out. He had lost confidence in me.”

Crane was officially fired this morning by another department official, she said, after Benton went to Easley’s press conference about mental health issues.

Crane said her dismissal revolved around the Easley administration’s attempts to get former DHHS secretary Carmen Hooker Odom to talk to The N&O about her supposed opposition to the 2001 mental health reforms.

The News & Observer

I’m a little confused as to how and what exactly went down here. The article isn’t all that clear either, but did Crane get canned for being honest?

“It does amaze me that y’all have done this series detailing all this waste of money, all the hurt people … and that the one person who gets fired is me,” she said. “It’s truly shooting the messenger.”

At a special meeting Monday, Clifton submitted a letter of resignation to the board.

“If three members of the Board of Commissioners express their collective desire for a change in County Managers, I may invoke the separation provisions of my agreement,” Clifton said in a letter of resignation he submitted to the board Monday night.

Clifton, who was not at the special meeting or the board’s subsequent regularly scheduled meeting, will receive six months of severance pay, totaling $148,521.83. His salary was $144,000.

“This amount is six months of salary and his benefits,” said Ron vonLembke, county attorney.

Jacksonville Daily News

This is the second such occurrence in North Carolina in a month.  This time a County Manager is pressured to resign earlier than his contract is up and Archie Bunker here is paid almost $150,000 of taxpayer dollars to do so.  Once again, no reason is given as to why the County Commission feels it necessary to release him early.  This is another outrageous waste of tax dollars at the expense of Onslow County residents.  Seriously, I need a deal like this.

RALEIGH — Two-term Rep. Laura Wiley faces a Republican primary challenge from George Ragsdale, part of a well-known Jamestown political family.

“I have no quarrel with Laura Wiley at all,” Ragsdale said. “I appreciate and respect the work she’s done. But I know I can do more.”

Ragsdale’s grandfather was a county commissioner; his father was a longtime mayor and City Council member. Other family members have served in elected and appointed posts locally. And the family name adorns a high school and streets in the area.

“Certainly his family has been a tremendous asset to Jamestown and they are well-known for their philanthropy,” Wiley said of her challenger.

The News-Record

CONCORD - With a total of nine candidates, the race for two open seats on the Cabarrus Board of County Commissioners is loaded.

A primary election will be needed in May to whittle down the seven Republican candidates to two.

Running against incumbent Commissioner Robert Carruth in the Republican primary will be Holly Blackwelder, Larry Burrage, Marcy Hiers, Joy Lane, Liz Poole and Jim Rhinehart.

The Democratic race is made up of Archie Barnhardt and Wendell Fant.

Independent Tribune

After pleading guilty last summer to prostitution-related charges, longtime N.C. politician Coy Privette said he would resign from the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners and move out of the county once he sold his house.

Privette will close on his house Monday, he said Friday.

But when it comes to his seat on the county board, he’s not going anywhere.

“I’ll be renting,” Privette said. “I’ve already got it (lined up.)”

Privette’s decision to serve as a commissioner until his term ends after the 2010 election frustrates efforts of some Cabarrus County Republican leaders, who wanted Privette to resign so they could appoint his replacement.

Charlotte Observer

I Privette’s remaining on the board is all out of spite, personally.  He can’t be forcibly removed from the Commission and he knows his continued presence is frustrating the local party so I think he is just sitting back and enjoying all of the hemming and hawing.