Worst Week in Raleigh: Dana Cope

by | Feb 13, 2015 | Carolina Strategic Analysis, Features | 5 comments

Today is Friday the 13th, and also that time of week where we distribute the highly uncoveted ‘Worst Week in Raleigh’ award. And this week, the winner is … Dana Cope, (former) executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, who resigned on Tuesday over allegations of financial misconduct. Cope, known for being outspoken and sometimes abrasive, led the organization for almost 15 years.

Cope’s resignation came two days after a News & Observer article documenting the SEANC’s payment of $109,000 to a landscaping firm that had done work at his home. In addition, the nonprofit spent money, at Cope’s direction and without prior approval from the board of directors, on such items as men’s clothes, video games, and, perhaps most embarrassingly, eyebrow waxing. Though the SEANC’s Executive Committee released a statement on Monday saying they had found no wrongdoing on Cope’s part, Cope admitted the next day in a press conference that he may have “blurred the lines between his personal life and his professional life.”

In addition, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has asked the State Board of Investigation to look into the matter. Freeman cautioned that the inquiry would not be a criminal investigation, rather an assessment of whether criminal activity occurred – small comfort for Mr. Cope. Interestingly, Cope opposed Ms. Freeman in the Democratic primary for that office last year, an office that the N&aO notes has little to do with issues of concern to the SEANC.

When attacking politicians, Cope has proven to be an equal opportunity offender, ironically criticizing Treasurer Janet Cowell for fiscal mismanagement and also questioning the effectiveness of the Moral Monday movement, while at the same time going after Republicans like Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and State Sen. Ralph Hise. In an unprecedented move, Cope helped steer $200,000 of the SEANC’s money to intervene in the GOP primary against Hise. Hise won and upon returning to the General Assembly introduced a bill that would eliminate payroll deductions of dues for the SEANC and the NCAE.

For these controversial moves, Cope made a lot of enemies within and outside of the organization, and more than a few are gratified at his departure. For the SEANC, it’s the chance to make a new start, or, in the words of Gary Pearce, a “sign of spring.” Members of the organization have their work cut out for them.

Dana Cope, for making one too many enemies during your tenure and resigning under a cloud, you’ve earned this week’s “Worst Week in Raleigh” award. It’s not eyebrow waxing, but we think it’s still a good consolation prize. Congrats, or something.

Here’s some folks who had a bad week in the past:

February 6, 2015 – Thom Tillis
January 30, 2015 – Julia Howard
January 9, 2015 – NC House Democrats

Do you know an NC political figure who had a bad week? You can nominate someone by sending us an e-mail or by writing in the comments section and explaining why you think they’re worthy of the prize.

5 Comments

  1. Proud SEANC member

    Clearly most of the comments made did not come from state employees. Unless you have walked in the shoes of a state employee, you have no Idea what we go through. SEANC is the only voice we have as state employees. I’m not talking about Dana Cope, I’m talking about the association. If we had no one speaking for us, the state would do what they want to to us. We would’nt get nothiing. I’ve worked in many different areas as a state employee and everywhere I’ve worked most of my co-workers had to work a second job just to make ends meet. we work in terrible conditions. I’m a supervisor in a prison with 19 yrs experience with an excellent work record and no disciplinaries. I have over 2400 hrs of sick and vacation time. We can’t even get a decent raise for the hard work we do. How is a 2 percent raise or 40 extra hrs of vacation going to help us when the prisons are already so short staffed that we can’t even get extra time off. All the job shortages and job cuts leave some of us doing the job of 3 people. I’ve been faithful to the state even when it has not been faithful to me. I look every day for another job. I’m not at retirement yrs or age but I’m ready to give all of this up! While you all are lying in your warm beds, DOT workers are out clearing the snow so you can go to work or to the grocery store to get food for your family. While you all are home sleeping peacefully we are keeping inmates from escaping and harming your families.
    We are not appreciated. The people in the general assembly don’t know what we go through. They don’t see the staff that get urine and feces thrown on them or the staff that get spat on or assaulted just for doing their jobs.they don’t see when staff gets looked over for position or promotion because she/he is not in the cliche. I cannot say I’m a proud state Employee because I ‘m not! I can say I’m proud to be a SEANC member because that’s all we got. I’ve been Riffed 3 times and I’m still here! Working for the state is not what it used to be. Everyone else gets a cost of living increase, we don’t. Some of us put our very lives on the line everyday with no thanks and no appreciation. Most of the time I go home mentally and physically drained. When I get my 2 days off, I sleep all day the 1st day. While the people that sit in Raleigh and pass bills and make laws get two pay checks, we try to find ways just to get some extra money to go with what we have. So I say don’t knock SEANC members until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes!

    Proud SEANC Member

  2. J A Neila

    The worst week for SEANC members happened over two weeks ago when Cope was approached by investigative News and Observer reporters, followed by rumors of papers shredded; an inept SEANC executive board chair leading the weakest board of governors in the history of the organization; Cope announced his resignation when he felt all evidence was destroyed, and stories about the past executive director appearing on back pages of local newspapers. LOL, it was a devastatingly horrendous.

  3. G H Wilson

    Good riddance Dana . You talked the state employes to set out the 2010 election and it has helped get this state in the worse situation that it has been in in over a 100 years. So yes good riddance

  4. Apply Liberally

    Three words come to mind regarding Cope’s actions: greed, arrogance and stupidity. Since moving to NC, I have been amazed at the number of politicians, organizational executive directors, and other public figures who abuse their fiscal responsibilities. I hope it’s just because they are better in NC at ferreting out these cases.

    And if SEANC’s Executive Committee found no wrongdoing on Cope’s part, I truly hope it’s because the books were cooked and they simply couldn’t nail down improprieties. Because if they think what he did was “OK”, then the committee needs to go.

    • Jim Hammerle

      Exactly right.

Related Posts

GET UPDATES

Get the latest posts from PoliticsNC delivered right to your inbox!

You have Successfully Subscribed!