North Carolina candidates and political committees recently filed their final campaign finance reports for 2023, revealing who provided the money and how it was spent. Many news articles tell us who is leading in the fundraising horse race, but there's much more to explore in these reports. They provide a unique window into our state's political culture. Here, we present eight examples based on a review of previous reports and a little research. Check out more examples soon!
1. According to the disclosure report: Lois E. Everett Jr. His family donated a total of $74,800 to dozens of lawmakers and political committees in 2023. That's more than most PACs in the state.Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Everett time loan service, The chain has 25 small loan stores across the state. Other store owners will donate $113,200 in 2023 to support the Truth in Lending Act and its continued efforts to impact the fees charged to customers for quick cash and loans to buy cars, furniture, and more. Donated to strengthen.
Despite Gov. Roy Cooper's veto, the controversial bill (Senate Bill 331) was passed in 2023 and includes higher loan limits, higher interest rates, and regulatory changes for non-mortgage lenders for loans under $25,000. There's a good reason why the consumer finance industry has a prestigious reputation. Pay-to-play power In Raleigh. In 2010, stopped donating to With the help of Democratic lawmakers, he helped Republicans gain control of the General Assembly and then pushed for favorable legislation to pass despite opposition from military base commanders and consumer advocates.
industry please put more money Throughout the Next Decade and Republican Leaders pushed through more bills. Lois Everett's family has invested $960,000 in state politics since 2010, and changes in state law have netted their businesses millions of dollars in profits.
2. Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) ignored multiple orders He was asked to pay a fine by the State Election Commission for delaying the submission of his election activity disclosure report. His total payment is only $1,200. By not paying his money, Brockman is showing contempt for the law and the people's right to know how their campaign funds are spent. The final report on its activities in 2023 has also been delayed and will soon result in another fine. This is the sixth consecutive delay in reporting, the worst record for any lawmaker.By some measures, Brockman's job performance record is also one of the worst – he Missed That accounted for more than a quarter of the votes the House held on the 2023 bill.
3. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) He uses his campaign credit card to pay for various expenses, but what is he buying? His campaign was subject to a rigorous audit by the State Board of Elections in 2015. , began itemizing expenses in disclosure reports, but the latest report shows he has fallen off. In the past two years, he has charged more than $44,000 of his money to his credit card without disclosing what he was buying. Failure to disclose expenses violates state law.
Mr. Moore also pocketed more than $70,000 from donors over the past four years by charging his campaign monthly fees for the use of his law office, which he renovated from a small house he owns on Kings Mountain.that excessive amount It would also be against the law. Fortunately, only a few members of Congress aside from Moore and Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger have used donor money to pay for office buildings they own.
Four. david M. Powers, A lobbyist for various blue-chip companies, he is prohibited under North Carolina law from donating to the campaigns of state legislators, but reports suggest that his wife, Shreita T. Powers, will donate to 16 people in 2023. It has been revealed that he donated a total of $24,500 to the congressman. A lobbyist gets around the donation ban by having his spouse make large donations, but no one at the power level.
Before registering as a lobbyist in 2016, Powers was vice president of state government relations at tobacco giant Reynolds America. As a lobbyist boss, he lavished tens of thousands of dollars each election cycle on candidates for the legislative and executive branches, although he was not a lobbyist himself. But that went away after he registered as a lobbyist. Launched Powers StrategiesReynolds and other companies as customers.
At that point, Schleita Powers suddenly became a major donor. She has donated $184,000 to candidates and political committees in North Carolina since 2016 (no contributions to Democrats), compared to $10,100 over the past 20 years, according to the report. David still donates thousands of dollars to judicial candidates, which is approved by lobbyists.
When Republicans took control of the General Assembly in 2011, they chose David as their next nominee. one of the first appointed To the UNC Board of Governors. He served his 12 years and was appointed to the NC State University Board of Trustees in 2023. The Legislature also appointed Schleita to the North Carolina Museum of Fine Arts Board of Directors for multiple terms.
Five. Jimmy D. Clark The president of a Greensboro-based crane and heavy-lifting company, he is also a member of many politicians who provide large sums of money to state politics and serve on boards that tilt state policy in their own interests. He is one of the appointees. Mr. Clark previously served as Chairman of the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees.Thanks to Appointment by the North Carolina State Senate, he currently serves on the UNC Board of Governors. Clark donated $66,000 in 2023, including two donations of $6,400 each to Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger. Jimmy's son, Lynn Clark, also gave Berger $12,800. However, the cap was $6,400 per person in 2023. Berger's report said his campaign returned the excess donations.
Since 2000, Jimmy Clark and his family have donated $492,000 to candidates and political committees in North Carolina. Following the pattern of many wealthy business leaders, nearly all of the Clark family's donations went to Democrats, causing them to lose control of the General Assembly. Since 2010, almost all the money has gone to Republicans.
6. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) He has probably turned more campaign funds into personal wealth than any politician in recent memory. The total cost could exceed $300,000. Here's how:
In addition to the housing allowance he received as a congressman, Berger used $73,500 of his campaign funds to: buy a townhouse He sold it to a lobbyist in Raleigh for an additional $80,000 profit. After the sale, he began using donor money to buy condos in Raleigh, but the decision was ultimately made by the state Board of Elections. canceled the plan.
Through his law firm, Berger raised $117,300 from 2012 to 2020. charge his campaign A monthly fee for the use of his law office in Eden, even if the election staffer works elsewhere.
Next up is Berger. formed a partnership with a lawyer Seth Woodall In mid-2020, it moved to the Woodall office building in Eden. Berger's camp has begun paying Woodall Properties “office rent” totaling $82,500 by the end of 2023. The move also freed Berger to rent out its old offices to tenants. owned by business From Woodall's sister-in-law. It all looks like another scheme to turn campaign funds into personal gain.
7. Seth Woodall (R) is currently running in the crowded Republican primary for lieutenant governor. campaign report There is no indication that Phil Berger is mobilizing donors to support Woodall. In fact, nearly all of Woodall's 2023 donors live in his home county area, with little sign of widespread support across the state. The list of donations includes $1 million in personal loans from Woodall and nothing from Berger's family.
8. Rep. Destin Hall (R)He is the chairman of the House Rules Committee and is expected to become speaker of the House next year, according to . his colleague.Here's the mystery: Why did 14 executives rocket mortgage Choosing to write a $1,000 check to just one Congressman in early 2023 – Destin Hall? Rocket is America's largest mortgage lender, owner of Quicken Loans, and online mortgage pioneer . The 14 executives in Michigan and Tennessee have never donated to North Carolina lawmakers before.
The company also created a state PAC a few years ago and hired a top lobbyist from McGuire Woods. The PAC was largely inactive until December 2023, when it sent donations totaling $33,000 to 13 members of Congress. Representative Destin Hall and Senator Phil Berger each received $6,000. Four other Republican leaders each received $3,000.
When you look at the pattern of surprise out-of-state donations and high-priced lobbyists, it's natural to wonder about paid corruption.
