Posted on 02/03/2005 5:00:30 PM PST by Libloather
Easley campaign returning money from topless club owner
The Associated Press
Published: Feb 3, 2005
Modified: Feb 3, 2005 2:40 PM
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Gov. Mike Easley's re-election campaign will return donations it received from a Charlotte-based operator of topless bars. Easley political adviser Mac McCorkle offered no reason for the refund to David "Slim" Baucom, who runs 17 topless clubs, including 12 in North Carolina. Easley, who won re-election in November, has returned contributions from other club owners in the past.
Campaign finance reports at the State Board of Elections show Baucom gave $8,000 to Easley during the 2004 election cycle.
"We're going to return all the money," McCorkle said Thursday.
Baucom said he didn't give the money so Easley would look out for his industry.
"I'm looking for him to represent me, my family, my grandchildren, the citizens of North Carolina," Baucom said.
Baucom has never met Easley, although he attended the governor's inaugural gala in downtown Raleigh last month. Baucom said he is puzzled why some are fussing over his donation from a legal business.
"The world we live in here, the public perception, I guess they have to deal with that all the time," Baucom said. "They'll take money from hog farmers and drug companies and tobacco companies and don't have a problem with that."
Cindy Thomson, coordinator of the Charlotte chapter of the National Organization for Women, said Easley deserves praise for taking the "high road."
"Easley needs to send a message," Thomson said, "that this is not the ideal kind of business to be having in North Carolina."
Baucom bought a $10,000 table at the inaugural gala and invited colleagues from the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance.
The rejected money hasn't soured Baucom on Easley's politics. But he decided the inaugural festivities were not an experience he was going to repeat.
"I can write that off my list," he said. "That's just not my cup of tea."
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