More history in Courtroom 1
Another episode in state history played out Tuesday afternoon in Courtroom 1 of the Terry Sanford Federal Building in Raleigh, when Gov. Mike Easley testified in the criminal trial of former N.C. Lottery Commissioner Kevin Geddings.
Defense lawyers for Geddings called Easley as their first witness after federal prosecutors rested their case against Geddings. The governor testified about 15 minutes, and reporters were scrambling to determine if a sitting N.C. governor had ever testified in a criminal trial.
In fact, for a few moments it also appeared that House Speaker Jim Black, who appointed Geddings to the Lottery Commission last year, might follow Easley to the witness stand. Lawyers might ask him to explain why he chose Geddings for the post and whether he knew that Geddings had done work for Scientific Games, a major national lottery vendor, before joining the commission. Geddings did not disclose that work and resigned after 40 days on the commission. He quit hours after Scientific Games disclosed it paid Geddings $24,500 for work earlier in 2005. But defense attorneys did not call Black to the stand Tuesday and the judge sent the jury home for the day. The speaker could be called to testify Wednesday or later.
Easley testified about his discussions with Black about appointing Charlotte attorney Robert Cordle to the Lottery Commission. Cordle was willing to serve, but if he took the lottery appointment he would have had to leave his appointment to the State Board of Elections. So Black considered other appointees – including, Cordle said when he was called to the stand, Charlotteans Larry Dagenhart and Jim Babb.
Earlier in the day, N.C. Lottery Commission Chairman Charles Sanders testified – which added another footnote in N.C. history. Both Sanders and Easley ran for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate – Easley in 1990 and Sanders in 1996 – and both lost to the party’s eventual nominee, former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt. In the general election both years, Republican Sen. Jesse Helms won, as usual.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
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2 comments:
Governor Easley has done the best job for North Carolina; He started the Lottery so all of you would not be taxed to death like others seem to enjoy is this State. While Bush has stripped services for the poor and middle class while giving the rich more benefits , its clear to see what Governor Easley has had to contend with; Governor Easley has had to compensate for these lucrative tax cuts ,given to the rich by the Federal Government, by raising taxes and trimming himself. The Lottery as devicive as it may seem is the fastest and non-evasive taxing method to get the Schools where they should have been. With Players like Judge Manning "slamming his gavel " and "demanding better schools for all " may start a discrimination case all over again much like that of the" Leandro case". Governor Easley took the best and quickest route possible. Just remember this Judge Manning has a boss also and they are about to start really looking into things here in N.C. The Lottery should have been started three years ago and we might have the 1.6 billion it will take to build all the schools we really need.
And speak of Jesse Helms; I went to his office when he was still a Senator and told them about the first New Hyundai Plant that was to be issued to the United States; Helms office replied, "that they have Textiles, Furniture and Tobacco to rely on , so the need for the Hyundai plant was not needed " what more can I say!
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