Posted on 04/08/2002 5:26:49 AM PDT by blackbag
Gifts to Dems linked to NC DMV(corruption)
The Associated Press
ASHEVILLE - State Division of Motor Vehicles officers from Western North Carolina pumped more the
$30,000 into state Democrats' campaigns in the 1990s, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported Sunday.
Campaign finance reports and other documents appeared to support a former DMV officer's allegations that
on-the-job campaigning and fund raising were required in the district enforcement section where he worked,
the newspaper reported.
The allegations are part of a 2-year-old probe by the State Bureau of Investigation into claims that DMV
employees fixed traffic tickets and took bribes to ignore truck safety regulations.
At the center of the investigation is Pete Bradley of Biltmore Forest, a former DMV officer in the Asheville
enforcement section and former police chief of the town of Woodfin.
According to an SBI file, Bradley told state investigators that he received an anonymous letter threatening
to reveal his participation in parties where men dressed in diapers if he exposed the scam. Instead of keeping
quiet, Bradley took the letter with him when he met with investigators in May 2000.
Bradley admitted to taking part in the events and said exposure would be highly embarrassing. The SBI
made the letter and Bradley's comments about it part of its report. Bradley was subsequently fired as
Woodfin police chief.
Bradley now says he is a whistle-blower who told the SBI that he had to make political contributions to
Democratic candidates to get his DMV job.
At least 15 of 65 DMV employees or their family members in the region contributed $32,760 to Democrats
between 1992 and 2000. At least seven DMV officers no longer with the agency also contributed, according
to campaign reports compiled by Democracy South, a campaign finance watchdog group in Chapel Hill.
Records show most of the money contributed by DMV officers was donated on the same dates as gifts by
their direct supervisors.
"It appears the money was gathered together and presented all at one time as a show of fund-raising
strength," said Bob Hall, Democracy South's research director. "The pattern of multiple donations coming
from state employees on the same day senior officials donated also suggests coordinated efforts."
It is legal for state employees to support political candidates financially, but it is illegal for workers to be
coerced into giving or to engage in political activities on the job. While apparent bundling of contributions
does not prove coercion, Hall said, it suggests a pattern that deserves examination.
A pending lawsuit against the DMV by a former employee alleges that supervisors told him and other
employees to solicit money and gifts from businesses they monitored, both for political campaigns and for
outings by top DMV and Department of Transportation brass.
Among the largest DMV givers to Democrats was Bradley. He and his wife contributed $8,850 from 1996 to
1999. Bradley says it "was standard, accepted procedure" for officers who wanted to advance to make and
collect political contributions for Democratic heavyweights. Bradley has alleged that promotions and good
work assignments were tied to making campaign contributions. Those who contributed, he said, were
considered "team players."
Capt. Gary Ramsey, the top enforcement supervisor in DMV in the region, and his family gave $9,975 from
1992 to 2000. Henderson County Inspector Charles Ellingburg and a family member gave $5,100 from 1995 to
2000.
What the???? I looked at Google and found this - (barf!).
It does not appear to be a joke. Tell me this is a joke.
What a touching display of civic involvement!most of the money contributed by DMV officers was donated on the same dates as gifts by their direct supervisors.
What a coincidence!
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