Rocky Mount NC - Betts' resignation is Nash's loss
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 01:18 AM
Posted in Politics Nash Co.
by DCN
Tom Betts' forced resignation from the N.C. Board of Transportation is a blow to economic development in this region and only served to highlight the hypocrisy of our political system.
Back in November, Betts sent an e-mail to Rick Benton, the economic development official for Roanoke Rapids, asking for help in . . . (Source Rocky Mount Telegram)
C. Dancy II - TPA Opinion: I find the following by Mr. Woodin quite interesting, "Betts was a major fundraiser for Gov. Mike Easley's campaign. Combining that with his economic development experience, volunteer service on multiple boards and his private business acumen, he was appointed to the Board of Transportation. That's the way governors have done it since roads were first paved, almost." Mr. Woodin did you know that the appointment came when Clark Jenkins resigned to move on to become Senator? Sources say that Shelly Willingham was suppose to be appointed in order that a black would have been on the board.
Mr. Woodin are you saying that the following quote do not apply today? "Years ago, appointment to the board was a political payoff to the winning candidate's cronies."
Mr. Woodin you say, "Meanwhile, Moore had been singling out the DOT board as an example of improper partisan fundraising by state appointees. In somewhat of a response, last May the board adopted a six-page ethics policy for both board members and staff members. The policy is featured prominently on the home page of the DOT's Web site." My problem is that it may not be illegal to do this however there is a policy.
Mr. Woodin you say, "People who were at a fundraising meeting with Betts before he sent the e-mail swear he made it clear he was acting as a private citizen and there was no connection between this request and any future DOT projects for the area." Well damn don't you think they want to save their friend? Obviously the email does not say such. However I would think that without reading the policy that even getting involved with the fundraising at the level that Mr. Betts did would be unethical since he was on the DOT board.
Mr. Woodin you say, "There may have been no "quid pro quo" in Betts' request, but just the whiff of it was enough. When the Moore campaign apparently saw the e-mail, it was a juicy opportunity to yell "I told you so" at the DOT board while also embarrassing Perdue, since one of her chief fundraisers was involved." Well damn obviously there were something there that Mr. Betts was forced to resign.
Mr. Woodin you say, "So Betts, as the first example of the new ethics policy, had to resign to take the pressure off both the board and Perdue. Whether this will change future appointments to the board remains to be seen. I doubt the next governor will appoint a board composed of minor campaign contributors who will work the 25-30 hours a week necessary to do a good job for a small per diem, which Betts says he never accepted."
Well sir that is just too damn bad the rules of the policy do not exclude him. I know that the way the appointments are set up in the present it is highly unlikely that a black person will ever be appointed. That is great that Mr. Betts says he never accepted the per diem however that reminds me when I tried to give back my mileage when I served on the NEED Inc. Board of Directors but was told that I had to take it.
Mr. Woodin I agree with you, "If the legislature really wants to reform the DOT board, restrict the appointments to two years. If board members don't perform for their districts, don't reappoint them. In the meantime, Nash County has lost a person who had the time and interest to do the job right."
Maybe Mr. Betts had the time and interest to do the job right but doing it right means abiding by the ethics policy that is in place.
I do not like dirty politics and I have no sympathy for Mr. Betts because he violated the policy and got caught so he must pay the price.
See related link:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008: Rocky Mount NC - Letter: Thank you, Tom Betts
Posted February 1, 2008
C. Dancy II - TPA Opinion: So it is obvious to me that this newspaper is showing their bias because Rip has gone many, many months without posting on his blog but then look how he comes back. Using the paper to promote Mr. Betts resigning from the DOT Board as if he has not done anything unethnical when he was forced to resign. So Rip you have done it again but wait a minute, I will get blamed for this because I have responded here. Oh well.
Posted February 12, 2008
It is funny how my comment has not been posted on Rip's blog. I am quite sure there has been some others who have posted as well. This confirms that the newspaper wants to make sure they get their point across and attempt to silence those who do not agree with them on certain issues. But they want black folks to purchase their papers.
Visit Rip's Blog on the Rocky Mount Telegram:
Note: Originally posted January 31, 2008
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