Scandals and cronyism as the legislature begins

by | Jan 25, 2019 | Editor's Blog, NC Politics | 2 comments

We’ve had election fraud in the form of unprecedented gerrymandering that’s left us voting in different Congressional, legislative and even municipal district multiple during the decade since the GOP took power. We’ve had power grabs designed to concentrate power in the legislature protected by those gerrymandered districts. Now, we have apparent scandal and cronyism running rampant in the House Speaker’s office.

The FBI is looking into allegations that Speaker Tim Moore did legal work for clients who benefited from legislation that was passed by the General Assembly. Questions are also floating around about a sweetheart real estate deal down in Chatham County that landed him and his partners hundreds of thousands of dollars with an assist by DEQ. Now, it appears that one of Moore’s staffers stayed on the payroll after he left his job in the legislature

According to the N&O, former Moore staffer Mitch Gillespie retired but continued to receive almost $100,000 in pay for what appears to be unpaid leave. The State Employees Association of North Carolina says it’s not aware of anyone having accrued that much leave before. Gillespie was also the Moore staffer who ran interference with DEQ in the Chatham County real estate deal.  It sure looks a lot like cronyism.

North Carolina politics in turmoil now seems to be the norm. Republicans have left so much uncertainty in their quest to turn the state into a right-wing policy lab that we’re used to having the legitimacy of our elections in doubt. Now, we’re heading into a new legislative session and we can throw scandal into the mix. Republicans got elected in 2010 promising to clean up state government. Instead, they’ve just made more of a mess, leaving us in unending court cases and scandals that harm our reputation. 

2 Comments

  1. cocodog

    Uncle Grumpy, I take it your comments are the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. I, on the other hand find the conduct mentioned by Mr. Mills to be nothing short of corruption in the finest banana republic tradition.

    There are numerous public employees who spent their entire careers working for less then outstanding wages, that never consider using their public trust for personal gain. If a politician practices law, it is assumed that individual would not allow his or her political life to be an extension of his or her law practice. In addition to the FBI, this is something the state bar should take a close look at.

  2. Peter Harkins

    Ya’ know, our Republican legislators have reason to still feel proud, even in the recent loss of their croak-hold on the House and Senate. They’ve provided a sparkling example for their brethren in DC of how to wield a mop to mud. (uh, Thomas, a comment on drop-in committee voting? 🙂

    We Tar Heels have so much to be thankful for in our legislative majorities in both our NC House and Senate. We have high regard for the several of our US House members who relied on in-person voting last November.

    And of course, we have to note that the perspicacity of our US senators is only equaled by the fluid loquacity of our most senior member of the Greatest Club in the World.

    What examples these public servants set for a high school civics class.
    Oh, I guess we don’t offer that course any more, do we?

    Uncle Grumpy 😉

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