Who's Who at the NC Board of Elections' Hearings [A Photo Guide]

Carolina Journal - John Locke Foundation ^ | Ongoing | Staff

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The complainant
		Bob Hall Bob Hall is Executive Director and Research Director for Democracy North Carolina. [Return to top]

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Elections Board
	Larry Leake Larry Leake, State Board of Elections Chairman, is a Democrat from Mars Hill. [Return to top]
	Lorraine G. Shinn Lorraine G. Shinn, board member, is a Republican from Greenville. [Return to top]
	Charles Winfree Charles Winfree, board member, is a Republican from Greensboro. [Return to top]
	Genevieve C. Sims Genevieve C. Sims, board member, is a Democrat from Raleigh. [Return to top]
	Robert Cordle Robert Cordle, board member, is a Democrat from Charlotte (he has recused himself from the hearings because his law partner Kenneth Bell is representing House Speaker Jim Black). [Return to top]
	Gary Bartlett Gary Bartlett is executive director of the State Board of Elections. [Return to top]
	Kim Westbrook Strach Kim Westbrook Strach is deputy director for campaign finance for the State Board of Elections. Strach initiated an investigation in response the complaint from Democracy North Carolina. She testified that she believed Michael Decker, Dr. Michael Scott Edwards, and Jim Black's political committee had violated campaign finance laws. [Return to top]

Other players

	Ken Bell Ken Bell is an attorney for Speaker Jim Black. He told reporters that the method that the optometrists used to make campaign contributions was legal. [Return to top]
	John Wallace John Wallace is an attorney for Speaker Jim Black. [Return to top]

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Those subpoenaed

	William C. Adams William C. Adams of Benson is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Scott Edwards. Some of the checks ended up with Michael Decker, Rep. Howard hunter, and Sen. Robert Holloman. [Return to top]
	David Robert Anderson David Anderson of Tarboro is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank and delivered them to Dr. Scott Edwards. [Return to top]
	Joel Raymond Banks Joel Raymond Banks of Morehead City is an optometrist. He testified that he solicited funds from other optometrists and sent them to Dr. Scott Edwards. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank. [Return to top]
	C. Vance Beck C. Vance Beck of Charlotte, a Wachovia Bank official was required to bring all cancelled checks for the years 2002-2005 for Michael F. Clark, Nelson C. Klaus, Jr. and Phillip D. Gaskins. [Return to top]
	James B. Black James B. Black of Matthews, is Speaker of the North Carolina House. In 2003 former State Rep. Michael Decker switched political parties from Republican to Democrat to help Black become co-speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Black testified that he later helped Decker raise money because Decker was now part of his leadership team. "I never gave Michael Decker anything to change parties," Black said. [Return to top]
	Charlie W. Brown Charlie W. Brown is from Saluda. [Return to top]
	Kelly Brown Kelly Brown of High Point, an official with High Point Bank and Trust Company, was required to bring all cancelled checks for the years 2002-2005 for C. David Sasser. [Return to top]
	J. Michael Burke J. Michael Burke of Winston-Salem is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Scott Edwards. He said that at the annual meetings of the N. C. State Optometric society Jim Black encouraged political giving through the political action committee. [Return to top]
	Tommy Ray Burris Tommy Ray Burris of Hazelwood has been convicted on numerous occasions of offenses related to "gambling and possession of gambling devices," according to the Democracy North Carolina complaint. He donated $300 to Jim Black's political campaign. [Return to top]
	Sandra Camp Sandra Camp of Hickory is a housewife who gave $1,000 to Michael Decker's campaign fund in 2003 shortly after he changed political parties to support Black for House Speaker. Her husband, Dale Camp, a nurse anesthetist, "said the money actually came from him, although his wife sent in the check. He acknowledged in an interview that the donation is probably the only contribution the couple has ever made to a political campaign. But he said he could not recall any specifics behind it," The News & Observer reported. [Return to top]
	Michelle Caudle Michelle Caudle of Hickory was listed in Decker's 2003 campaign finance report as a housewife who contributed $1,000. [Return to top]
	Michael F. Clark Michael F. Clark of charlotte is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Scott Edwards. Michael Decker apparently cashed some of his checks for personal use. [Return to top]
	Harold Clemmer Jr. Harold Clemmer, Jr. of Dallas is a truck-stop owner who gave Decker's campaign $4,000 in 2003. [Return to top]
	Andrew Cook Andrew Cook is from Garner. [Return to top]
	David Craven David Craven of Winston-Salem, an official with BB&T bank, was required to bring cancelled checks from any account maintained by Michael J. Johnson, James C. Moore, Christopher Moshoures, Karen Moshoures, Charles Pruden, and Cary Roach during the years 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	CT Corporation I The company CT Corporation, an affiliate of Sun Trust Bank in Raleigh, was required to send a representative and bring all cancelled checks from any account maintained by J. Michael Burke from 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	CT Corporation II The company CT Corporation, an affiliate of Merrill Lynch in Raleigh, was required to send a representative and bring all financial records of Michael Scott Edwards and the N.C. State Optometric Society PAC, the North Carolina Amusement Machine Association, Inc PAC, and the North Carolina Vending Association, Inc. PAC for the years 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	Michael Paul Decker Sr. Michael Paul Decker, Sr. of Walkerton, is a former Republican state representative who switched parties in 2002 to help elect Jim Black Co-speaker of the N. C. House of Representatives. He declined to testify, citing his Fifth Amendment right. [Return to top]
	Deborah Autry Dunlap Deborah Autry Dunlap is from Hamlet. [Return to top]
	Robert Dunlap Robert Dunlap is from Hamlet. [Return to top]
	Jimmy Edmundson Jimmy Edmundson, an official with Centura Bank in Rocky Mount, was required to produce bank statements; deposit tickets; all items supporting each deposit; copies of cancelled checks; and loan proceeds information for State Rep. Howard Hunter, Jr.; The Committee to Re-elect Howard Hunter, Jr.; Robert Holloman; and the Robert Holloman Senate Committee for the years 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	Michael Scott Edwards Michael Scott Edwards of Murfreesboro is an optometrist. He was required to bring his personal financial records and those of the N. C. State Optometric Society political action committee for the years 2002-2005. Edwards is the treasurer for the political committee but also gave a $4,000 individual donation to Michael Decker in 2003. He declined to testify, citing his Fifth Amendment right. [Return to top]
	Elaine Ellis Elaine Ellis, an official with the Four Oaks Bank in Four Oaks, was required to bring all cancelled checks from any account maintained by Michael J. Haynes from 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	David Freeman David Freeman of Walkerton is an optometrist. He delivered checks to Michael Decker who is also a patient of his. "I don't know anything about campaign laws. I trusted our PAC to keep up with it," he told the election board at the hearing. [Return to top]
	Phillip Gaskins Phillip Gaskins of Charlotte is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank. [Return to top]
	Bonnie Aiken Grigsby Bonnie Aiken Grigsby of Mocksville is an optometrist. She testified that she gave 23 checks with the payee line left blank, to the N. C. State Optometric Society political action committee. She said Dr. Scott Edwards solicited the money. [Return to top]
	Larry Gunter Larry Gunter is from Durham. [Return to top]
	Michael Joseph Haines Michael Haines of four Oaks is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank and delivered them to Dr. Scott Edwards. [Return to top]
	Dennis Hall Dennis Hall of Concord is an optometrist who gave $1,000 to Decker's campaign in 2003. [Return to top]
	Kathy Heckler Kathy Heckler, an official with Southern Bank and Trust Company in Mt. Olive, was required to bring all financial records for any accounts maintained by Michael Scott Edwards and the NC State Optometric Society PAC for the years 2002-20005. [Return to top]
	Kenneth Hill Kenneth Hill, an official with Merrill Lynch in Wilson, was required to bring all financial records for any accounts maintained by Michael Scott Edwards and the NC State Optometric Society PAC for the years 2002-20005. [Return to top]
	State Sen. Robert Holloman State Sen. Robert Holloman is a Democrat from Ahoskie. Holloman is also a pastor. Optometrist Michael Scott Edwards lives in Holloman's district. Holloman testified that through Edwards he received checks from several other optometrists outside his district. Holloman testimony revealed that he had a very poor understanding of campaign finance rules. [Return to top]
	Robert Huckabee Robert Huckabee of Wilmington is president of Southland Amusements & Vending Inc. and chairman of the Legislative Committee of the N. C. Amusement Machine Association. [Return to top]
	Stephanie S. Hughes Stephanie S. Hughes from Durham was required to bring all financial records from any account maintained by the North Carolina Amusement Machine Association, Inc. PAC and The North Carolina Vending Machine Association, Inc. PAC. She was also required to bring any documentation or communication with any person on behalf of Jim Black or his political committee, and to bring documentation on contribution solicitations made by either PAC, and documentation on contributions and expenditures made by either PAC. [Return to top]
	State Rep. Howard Hunter State Rep. Howard Hunter is a Democrat from Winton. [Return to top]
	Fletcher Keith Fletcher Keith is from Charlotte. [Return to top]
	Virginia R. Kelly Virginia Kelly of Charlotte works for speaker Jim black at his optometric office. She is also the treasurer for Black's political committee. [Return to top]
	Nelson C. Klaus Nelson C. Klaus of Wilmington is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Joel Banks. Michael Decker apparently cashed one check for personal use. [Return to top]
	Lisa Locklear Lisa Locklear is from Laurinburg. [Return to top]
	R.A. McCannell R. A. McCannell is from Lexington. [Return to top]
	Roger McPeak Roger McPeak is from Hazelwood. [Return to top]
	James C. Moore James C. Moore of Lexington is an optometrist. He said his wife signed the checks with the payee line left blank. [Return to top]
	Sandra Moore Sandra Moore of Lexington is an optometrist. She testified that in the year 2000 she signed 12 checks with the payee line left blank and mailed them to the N. C. State Optometric Society political action committee. [Return to top]
	Christopher Moshoures Dr. Christopher Moshoures of Charlotte is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank. Some of the checks were cashed by the Michael Decker campaign. [Return to top]
	Karen Moshoures Karen Moshoures of Charlotte, an optometrist who gave Decker's campaign $200 in 2003, was required to bring all cancelled checks from any account she maintained during the years 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	Meredith Lane Norris Meredith Norris of Raleigh is the former political director for Speaker Jim Black. She testified that she was his primary fundraiser and organized events. She said she never saw checks with the payee line left blank. [Return to top]
	David Onorato David Onorato, an official with Bank of America in Charlotte, was required to bring financial records for accounts maintained by Michael Paul Decker, Sr., Bonnie Aiken, Bonnie Aiken Grigsby, and James Robert Grigsby from 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	Mike Pearce Mike Pearce, an official with the State Employees Credit Union in Raleigh, was required to bring cancelled checks for accounts maintained by David R. Anderson, Rebecca Wartman, and Cleo Herbert Smith, Jr. from 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	Mark Poovey Mark Poovey of Winston-Salem is a lawyer with Womble Carlisle Sandridge & Rice, and a former lobbyist for the video poker industry. He gave Michael Decker's campaign $1000 in 2003 and solicited campaign contributions from other lawyers in his firm. [Return to top]
	Charles R. Pruden Charles R. Pruden of Wilson is an optometrist and for the past 17 years has been secretary-treasurer of the N. C. State Optometric Society. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank and that Dr. Scott Edwards determined who got money from the political action committee. [Return to top]
	Kenneth Ray Kenneth Ray is from Raleigh. [Return to top]
	Eric Raynor Eric Raynor from Benson is an optometrist who testified that he gave 12 signed $100 checks with the payee line left blank, to the N. C. State Optometric Society political action committee. He testified that he thought it was Dr. Scott Edwards who encouraged him to leave the payee line blank. [Return to top]
	R. Max Raynor R. Max Raynor of Benson is an optometrist. He testified that he gave 12 $100 checks with the payee line left blank. Michael Decker apparently cashed four the checks for personal use. [Return to top]
	Richard Rice Richard Rice of Winston-Salem is a lawyer with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice who donated $500 to Decker's campaign in 2003. [Return to top]
	Gary Roach Gary Roach of Mooresville is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Scott Edwards. The payees included former Rep. David Miner, former Rep. Greg Thompson, Michael Decker, and Sen. Robert Holloman. [Return to top]
	Alexander Sands Alexander Sands is a lawyer with Womble Carlisle Sandridge & Rice, testified that he raised money for Michael Decker and gave it to Speaker Jim Black. His firm lobbied for the N. C. State Optometric Society and he has lobbied for Southland Vending. [Return to top]
	C. David Sasser C. David Sasser of High Point is an optometrist. He testified that he gave 12 checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Scott Edwards. He said he did not know that Jim Black and Michael Decker would receive some of the money. [Return to top]
	James Sessons James Sessons, an official with Merrill Lynch in Durham, was required to appear and bring all financial records from any account maintained by the North Carolina Amusement Machine Association, Inc. PAC and The North Carolina Vending Machine Association, Inc. PAC. [Return to top]
	Kenneth Shelton Kenneth Shelton of Chapel Hill is a lawyer with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. Shelton donated $500 to Michael Decker’s campaign in 2003. [Return to top]
	Gus Shmidt Gus Shmidt, an official with First Citizens Bank of Raleigh, was required to appear and bring all financial records of any account maintained by James B. Black, William C. Adams, Eric Raynor, R. Max Raynor, and Charlie Brown for the years 2002-2005. [Return to top]
	Cleo Herbert Smith Jr. Cleo Herbert Smith of Concord is an optometrist. He testified that he gave checks with the payee line left blank to Dr. Scott Edwards. [Return to top]
	Meredith Swindell Meredith Swindell of Raleigh is Executive Assistant to Speaker Jim Black. Swindell said she was not directly involved in political fund raising, but that she would refer calls to Jim Black's campaign treasurer Virginia Kelly. [Return to top]
	James Testa James Testa is a truck-stop owner from Kings Mountain who gave $1,000 to Decker's campaign in 2003. [Return to top]
	Rebecca H. Wartman Rebecca H. Wartman of Fairview is an optometrist. She testified that she gave 10 checks in 2000, 10 more in 2002, and 10 more in 2004 with the payee line left blank, to the N. C. State Optometric Society political action committee. Some of the money ended up with Jim Black, Michael Decker, Rep. Howard Hunter, and Sen. Robert Holloman campaign accounts. Michael Decker apparently cashed some checks for personal use. [Return to top]
	Steve Willen Steve Willen is a Greensboro chiropractor who gave $1,000 to Decker's campaign in 2003. [Return to top]
	Jerry Yates Jerry Yates is from Waynesville. [Return to top]
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Great reference link: Kudos to the folks at Carolina Journal!

Jim Black

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[billbears]

Well I just think we need to take a moment and send our well wishes and thoughts to Jim Black. He was just so concerned about optometrists here in NC....

And for Meredith Lane Norris. She carried the water here and for the lottery...it's a conspiracy against them I tell you!!

[mykdsmom]

YOWSA!!!!

I had NO idea that many people were involved. I so want to see Black and Decker in orange jumpsuits with leg irons doing a perp-walk for dozens of news cameras.

Since they are RATS however I am skeptical of this ever happening, so sad.

MKM

[kcvl]

Isn't this what the RATS are accusing Tom DeLay of doing?!




Strach also testified Friday that Black‘s campaign appeared to have improperly taken too much personal money from Edwards and accepted $27,625 from business and corporate accounts. North Carolina bans candidate committees from accepting contributions from businesses.