Playing by the rules

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 16, 2008

With former Speaker of the House Jim Black in prison for accepting bribes in a restaurant bathroom, one might think that N.C. Democrats would make playing by campaign finance rules a top priority. Not so for the Rockingham County Democratic Party.
Since January 2007, the Rockingham County Democratic Party has failed to follow state election rules and comply with deadlines for filing campaign finance reports. With well heeled donors passing out thousand-dollar contributions like play money to local candidates, one has to wonder why the leaders of the county’s Democratic Party have been unwilling or unable to file campaign finance reports required by state law. One can only conclude that the Rockingham County Democratic Party thinks local voters are tuned out of the process and won’t hold them accountable at the polls for advocating higher taxes, while the party itself receives three non-compliance letters in the past 18 months from the state Board of Elections, a $500 fine, a fine waiver, and now the looming threat of having their party’s active status suspended.
If the Rockingham County Democratic Party can’t get a handle on its own finances and compliance with state regulations, how can we expect Democratic candidates and elected officials to handle our county’s finances in a responsible manner? Local conservatives should make it a priority to take control of the county’s Board of Commissioners and school board from big-spending Democrats who can’t even play by the rules.

Jeffrey Sykes
Reidsville