More on Corruption in North Carolina Politics

EVER WONDER HOW IT‘S DONE?
Try the Good Ol’ Boy Network
By Ann Ryder



Last week I had a call telling me that the Wake senator, Janet Cowell, had a conflict of interest. She works for Fountainworks, a market research and policy consulting firm, whose clients include DHHS and other state agencies, and she serves on the Legislative Oversight Committee on MH/DD/SAS (mental health is under DHHS). Chairing the committee are Senator Martin Nesbitt and Representative Verla Insko. Serving as a consultant to the committee is Larry Thompson, head of Blue Ridge Area Authority for more than 20 years. One wonders if Fountainworks gets its name from disgraced former Senator Fountain Odum? This writer has found no evidence of such, but political circles are very small. Fountain's wife, Carmen Hooker Odum is in charge of our state's mental health operations.

It sounded interesting, especially since Thompson and his gang are currently under investigation by Auditor Les Merritt. And talk about conflicts of interest!…Nesbitt’s racing team is sponsored by Blue Cross-Blue Shield and he votes on matters concerning them. The mental health reform, which is an absolute disaster, was sponsored by Senator Steve Metcalf who resigned his senate seat under a cloud. Metcalf was a partner in the company that played a major part in the reform, MGT of America. It smelled already…and I was just getting started. (Aside #1…were you aware that while the state is shutting down our psychiatric hospitals, it is increasing the bed space in prison psycho wards?…half the cost would be my guesstimate.) (Aside #2...During the rally to honor John Rhodes at A-B Tech last Saturday evening, Chad Nesbitt, Martin Nesbitt’s stepson, told the audience that when his mother first heard of Jim Black’s plea of guilt, she said, “Ohmygod, is Martin next?”)

---

---

North Carolina Conservative

Indeed, it is my belief that former Democratic House Speaker Jim Black will serve as the key-log that will break the log jam.