Post from 05/11/2006
Nothing has changed............................
The North Carolina Appraisers Act reads in part:
"The appointee recommended by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall be a person not involved directly or indirectly in the real estate, real estate appraisal, or the real estate lending industry."
However, several members of the NCAB, have ties to the real estate industry. The information became even more troubling when the reader told us of what appears to be a pattern regarding how members are appointed. There are seven members of the Appraisers Board, chosen by Senator Marc Basnight and Gov. Mike Easley. According to the State Board of Elections website (The Mike Easley 2003 Committee Report) and
www.FollowTheMoney.org three members were appointed within days of making large contributions to Gov. Easley.
Earl Worsley was sworn in as a member of the North Carolina Appraisal Board on October 14, 2003. He was appointed by Gov. Easley. Mr. Worsley made a $1,000.00 contribution to Gov. Easley on September 24, 2003..... less than three weeks before he was sworn in....and only DAYS from the day his appointment was announced.
Larry Wright made a $500.00 contribution to Gov. Easley on the VERY SAME DAY as Earl Worsley.....and again he was sworn in as a member of the NCAB on January 20, 2004......
Mr. Charles Hinnant (a sitting NCAB member) ALSO made a $1,000.00 contribution to Gov. Easley on the very same day as those above. Mr. Hinnant also made a generous $1,000 to Gov. Easley on 06/29/2000 but had to wait until the next available appointment could be made. Mr. Hinnant was appointed on April 15, 2002. He has since been RE-APPOINTED to the NCAB by Gov. Easley on September 17, 2004 and responded with $300.00 and $200.00 in contributions to the Lt. Governor and Governor in October of 2004.
Data for three of the remaining four board members is much the same. One of the board members was recently appointed and contribution data for 2005 is not yet available.
Interestingly, a new NCAB building is under construction, which will cost millions of dollars when completed & furnished.
The "Democratic Key" system is vast and complex, but if investigators follow the money, Jim Black may be only the first domino to fall.