Little Red and White Signs Still Impact Lee County Politics

Mike Stone Caught in Own Words

It was turning out to be more than he had bargained for--Steve Thomas didn't think that falsifying an election report was too big a deal. When a reporter from the Sanford Herald started asking questions that very night he began to get that nagging feeling in his gut he had got more than he bargained for when he agreed to his role in a conspiracy to cover for one of the people involved with some little red and white signs. When Thomas heard from Herald reporter Gordon Anderson that Jamie Kelly denied even knowing him, he could see the plan was to leave him holding the bag.

He turned to his friend and budding business partner in the purchase of Goodfellows, Mike Stone, and gave him the story. Whether the idea to call the "victim", Herb Hincks, to apologize and say he had made a mistake was Stone's or Thomas's, we may never know. Meanwhile, the pressure mounted as the e-Lee Dispatch had tracked him down by phone.

Stone himself made at least three calls: one to the e-Lee Dispatch and two prominent office holders - one that night and the other the next morning. There is no question in the minds of the office holders that Stone said Thomas had told him that Sanford City Detective Kevin Bryant was one of "two close friends". The story is further confirmed by District Attorney, Susan Doyle, who clearly remembers being called while on vacation at the beach about the matter.

By mid-morning the next day, when contacted for more information, Stone said Thomas had retained prominent Sanford attorney, Jonathan Silverman, and Thomas had "clammed up". So it turned out, had Mike Stone. Despite his claim the previous night of hearing it from the horses mouth, he dismissed that as "just a rumor" saying he had to be have been misunderstood. A check with the others he had talked with found each one recalled that Stone was clear that he got his information directly from Thomas.

As time passed, this change in position began to trigger other questions. If Thomas told Stone one of the names of the friends, wouldn't human nature seem to make it likely that Thomas had told Stone both names? Other questions arose: As a city councilman, taking an oath to uphold the law, did he not have an obligation to turn his first-hand information over to the city manager and chief of police? Faced with such a claim neither of them could no longer dismiss the matter as just a rumor.

Was Stone covering for his friend and business partner whose best chance seems to "cut a deal" by giving up the names of the friends who approached him? After all, suborning perjury is a more serious crime than the perjury committed when Thomas signed the form. And Kelly's filing of an accurate form the day after Thomas did showed that Kelly, not Thomas, had ordered the signs leaving Thomas holding the bag.

Others have speculated that when you own a small grocery store that does a big business in beer kegs, a wine store, and now a night club, he might want to avoid a confrontation with a powerful police chief who is accountable to no one. A chief with no desire to hear first hand questions about a detective so closely associated with him politically. Otherwise, how would he sweep it under the rug as "rumor."

As more and more people learned of Stone's involvement, plans for him to be the Littiken candidate for county chair began to be more risky. He was personally and indirectly urged to bring it to the attention of the proper authorities on his own. Finally, about a month ago, he and Littiken twisted arms of some GOP leaders and others to meet at a Jonesboro restaurant. For the first time, Stone produced someone he claimed "was with him" when he made the phone calls to collaborate that he never attributed his source of information directly to Thomas. Yet, he claimed to have a "pretty good idea" who the other person was--a name already in circulation as rumor but neither confirmed or denied to us.

Why wouldn't a city councilman because of his oath and office disclose the direct information he has? At some point he may have to answer the question of what his friend and business partner told him under another kind of oath. All this just adds more mystery to a case with so much known and yet so many unanswered questions.

Government Report Hints at Job Shift

A new government report says that the US economy continues to lose jobs at monthly rates not seen in six decades. There's still no end in sight to the severe recession that has so far cost the US more than four million jobs.

• The assumption is that these jobs will return to the economy once the recession is over. Visit our Job Shift Section on the upper navigation bar and see why that may not be true and what it may mean for us.


• Check our "Editor's Reader" to see the official government report detailing which industries are losing the most jobs and which areas are actually gaining.


• The Rasmussen Poll , also in our "Editor's Reader" looks at who is still reading print newspapers compared to online versions and were the public is getting its news.
  
  

Where's The Sign-gate Perjury Case--You'll Be Surprised

Just Like A Picnic, The Ants Never Go Away:

• What Steve Thomas Doesn't Want You To Know
• Is Another Elected Official on the Hot Seat?
• Why the District Attorney Will Decide This Case

After months of investigation, conversations, and research, they'll be no passes for perjury.

Starting next week in the e-Lee Dispatch.

Herald Partners with Boys & Girls Clubs

SPECIAL OFFER to Benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sanford

In recognition of B&GC Week and the work our local clubs do in the community, The Herald is offering a special promotion to all non-subscribers: purchase a 3-month subscription at the regular price of $38.25 and we'll donate $20 of your purchase price back to our local clubs during their fund drive. For information, call our Circulation Department at (919) 718-1233. Offer expires April 8 and is available only if you've not been an active subscriber for the past six months.

From A Message via  Herald Facebook by Bill Horner III

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Love' Bill Binds Commissioners To Party's Recommendation

Bill Gives Members Reason to Participate in Local Conventions

Veteran Representative Jimmy Love has introduced House Bill 435. This bill would require that vacancies to the board of commissioners and in the office of sheriff would be recommended by the party executive committee and then must be appointed. Such a law is already on the books for 45 other NC counties. A law is already on the books that makes the same requirement for Registers Of Deeds.

Under rules in both parties, executive committee members are barred from active roles in primary campaigns giving them less influence on the direction of the philosophy and positions of candidates for office which they are bound to support when nominated. Passage of Love's bill would make a membership truly important if a vacancy occurred. This may give Republicans more reason to turn out Monday night (March 30) and Democrats at their April convention.

The bill might have avoided much controversy in the filling of the District 2 seat originally held by Amy Stevens. In the first go round, Richard Littiken reported the Lee County Republican Executive Committee nominated Kirk Smith. Smith frequently wrote letters to the editor strongly supporting conservative views with constitutional arguments. Commissioner Jamie Kelly nominated retired Broadway police chief George Bates, but Bates withdrew at the last minute and Smith was elected.

Ironically, according to an article by Herald reporter, Gordon Anderson, in early September, at the time of Smith's recommendation, Lee County had no official Republican Party recognized by the state GOP. Littiken claimed it was a matter of paperwork, but actually he had failed to conduct a convention in March as required under party rules. With the sudden departure of Kirk Smith at a time while their was no recognized Republican party, Kelly recommended John Quiggle, a Republican serving on the school board. This motivated local and state officials to call a convention allowing the GOP executive committee to properly recommend Harry Undy, a individual long active in Carolina Trace organizations. Despite the GOP efforts, the commissioners passed over Undy and selected Quiggle.

According to Rep. Love, the bill will not have any difficulty being passed.

Rate Of Job Loss: Time To Consider Job Shift

Understanding "Job Shift" May Be Key To Helping Unemployed

The unemployment rate in Lee County jumped to 13.4 percent in January, according to numbers released Thursday by the state Employment Security Commission. The rate for Lee County in December was 10.9 percent.Statewide, the unemployment rate jumped to 9.7 percent, up from 8.1 percent in December. – Sanford Herald Facebook email 3:18 pm.”

A crisis in finance markets has rapidly become a global jobs crisis. Jobs are being eliminated and so unemployment rising. Businesses, local and global, are going under. Our blog includes a section called “Job Shift” and a download to a 1994 Fortune cover story based on a William Bridges’ provocative book, Jobshift: How To Prosper In A Workplace Without Jobs.(Google Version) Its premise is that one of the single most significant factors in adult life, “the job,” is disappearing, and that our individual and national well-being require a radically different perspective on how to make a living. Consider these brief quotes (with emphasis added) from noted economists and commentators:

“This is not an ordinary recession that differs from other recent episodes simply by being somewhat more severe. It differs in kind.” Axel Leijonhufvud, VOX, March, 13, 2009.

“These jobs (651,000 more jobs disappeared in February) aren’t coming back,” Job Losses Hint at Vast Remaking of Economy”, New York Times, March 6, 2009

“this isn't likely an economic crisis that most of us have ever witnessed in our lifetimes. Are We on the Verge of Structural Unemployment?-Charles Lemos, MYDD,March 9, 2009

What if the crisis of 2008 represents something much more fundamental than a deep recession?Thomas L. Freidman, “The Inflection Is Near”, New York Times, March 8, 2009

That perspective is nothing less than a new way at looking at the world of work so differently it will require a paradigm shift that requires we look at everything in our lives and society with a totally new view. When a paradigm shifts, those who recognize it early and work on its assumptions emerge as leaders. The 13% of our workers would have a better chance at regaining work (if not a job), and our local economy improve greatly. Our Job Shift section is designed to help individuals, businesses, and leaders accept the realities of the coming change and prepare for it now. A new second video has been added. If you have not seen both, we highly recommend them. One has been seen by more than 3,000,000 viewers.

Editor's Note: This is an abbreviated version of the post on the Job Post section. We encourage everyone, but especially community leaders to visit the site for more detailed information including expanded quotations for the articles above.

 Subject: Lee's unemployment rate jumps to 13.4 percent

The unemployment rate in Lee County jumped to 13.4 percent in January, according to numbers released Thursday by the state Employment Security Commission.

The rate for Lee County in December was 10.9 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate jumped to 9.7 percent, up from 8.1 percent in December. It was the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina since March 1983, when the rate was 10 percent.

The jobless rate increased in each of the state's 100 counties.

Read more about this breaking news in Friday's Herald. (Source: Sanford Herald Facebook email 3:18 pm.” - Becoming a member of Sanford Herald's Facebook is a good way to stay up on late-breaking stories.)

Time For Someone To Be Accountable For The Chief

Arrogance Publicly Stated

The editor blasted the Sanford Chief of Police yesterday during a City Council meeting for his arrogant behavior when asked to meet with the Mayor - a request he flatly denied. His behavior goes largely unsupervised by City Manager Hal Hegwer who appears to have a hands-off style of management.

Tune in to the first 6 minutes of the City Council meeting by clicking here or tune in to Sanford TV11 at 3pm, 6pm or 10pm - it is something you don't want to miss.

To get more background on this story, you may wish to read the following post:
Chief of Police, City Manager, Refuse Mayor's Request

Also, you may be interested in a news story published by the Fayetteville Observer about Hal Hegwer:
Spring Lake Police: Court of Public Opinion

Posts Returning With Lots of News

NOTE: THE DATE OF THE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CONVENTION WAS INADVERTENTLY STATED AS MAY 30 WHEN IN FACT, IT IS MARCH 30TH. PLEASE BE SURE TO MARK THIS CORRECTLY ON YOUR CALENDARS.

Special Note:Significant time has been invested in making a number of resources available for those 2000+ people who have lost jobs in Lee County. Tremendous research and effort went into the development of the "Job Listings" link found at the center of our top navigation bar. Based on careful research of potential sources and available technology, this link contains constantly updating listings in 29 job categories of the latest job openings within 50 miles of Sanford. With two clicks from our main page, a person can get what could be their key to employment. Please email any one you know who is unemployed, is at risk of being unemployed, any personnel officers who face the task of letting people go, local organizations that assist the disadvantaged, and let them know of this service. You can send this post by clicking the email icon at the bottom.

Work on the e-Lee Dispatch on our commitment to bringing Lee County citizens new, information, and analysis is just a strong as ever. With a direct link to the Sanford Herald on line, 10 constantly updating sources of regional and national news, the return to this area of columns by Ann Coulter (who lost her spot at the Sanford Herald in a "political correctness" controversy) along with prominent columnists Cal Thomas, George Will, and David Broder, we have provided a comprehensive, one-stop source for your news. See my personal blog for some of the reasons behind the redesign, with many new features.(click here).

Concern over the continuing job losses that have left Lee County with an unemployment rate higher that national and state rates will mean more posts about the local impact and what the community is (or isn't) doing about it. In fact the following post deals with a proposal to be considered Monday as to how to cut positions from county government.

Now that voters have brought Robert Reives' iron-fisted control of county government to an end, there isn't necessarily a lot of fodder for posts coming from commissioners meeting. (If we can find the time, however, we will excerpt from the video last meeting in which Reives and Jamie Kelly were laughing and congratulating themselves for not funding renovations for Lee County High because of an economic downturn that has brought concern and difficulty to area businesses, employees, and owners of 401-k's)

Research for some posts with potential consequences is always on going. The perjury complaint was discussed this week with State Board of Elections Director Bartlett and District Attorney Susan Doyle. Those who keep expecting that the grandfather of one of the key players can keep it bottled up, should step forward now and come clean. It is not going away.

Meanwhile, another prominent elected official has become a matter of controversy in the case, and will shortly be the subject of a post. There will also be a post answering the question, "Who is Steven Thomas" who signed the form without knowing what he was signing at the request of two friends. We now know why Thomas requested that we remove locating information about him from an earlier post. He will find out how much we have learned from Raleigh and from the satellites. It turns out he perjured himself in more ways than reporting an expenditure to the sign manufacturer.

It also appears that a real showdown is coming for leadership of the Lee County Republican Party Monday night, MARCH 30, in the old courtroom, beginning with precinct meetings at 6:30 with the convention following afterward. It looks as if there will be a battle between former school board member John Bonardi and at least a surrogate for Richard Littiken - whom some of his closest supporters have urged not to attend. One surrogate under consideration is County Commissioner Linda Shook, famous for her focus on national issues in her term on the board thus far.

Editors Note: Take advantage of the opportunity to subscribe to posts by email. Take note of the link "click here" if you want to subscribe anonymously. All current programs for signing up by email make the list of subscribers available to the bloggers who use them for marketing. We don't mind knowing who our readers are, but we have no interest in using the list information. We also know some people would want to protect their privacy with us and other sites and the link will take you to a way to do that.