Mitch Gillespie for NC House

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This Week in Raleigh, 3-20-08

Historic Special Session

Today I sat on the House floor for a historic moment. During my service over the years many historic events have taken place but I don't think any like this. The purpose of this special session is to expel Representative Thomas Wright (D) New Hanover for unethical conduct unfitting and unbecoming a member of the House of Representatives. The North Carolina Constitution provides that "each House shall be judge of the qualifications and elections of its own members." This language has been in the Constitution since 1776 with only minor changes. The last time the House expelled one of its own was in 1880. One member was censured by the House in 1996 and was later defeated. The case of Representative Wright has been going on for sometime. Due process has been carried out. The House Select Committee to Investigate Alleged Misconduct and Other Matters included in indictments regarding Representative Thomas Wright presented nearly 950 pages as to their findings. Of the eight counts they looked into, six of them were found by clear and convincing evidence that Representative Wright engaged in unethical and unlawful conduct during his tenure as a member of the North Carolina House. The short answer as to what he did is failing to disclose approximately $180,000 in campaign contributions between 2000 - 2007. The criminal charges of which he still has to stand trial on deals with $340,000.

This Week in Raleigh, 2-13-08

Water Talks

Water or rather the lack of it is becoming the topic of conversation and concern for all North Carolinians. Last week the Catawba-Wateree River Basin Commission, of which I am a member, met in Huntersville. Two experts from Colorado, who have helped defuse water disputes from New Mexico to Florida, gave presentations dealing with the deadlock the two Carolinas have in sharing the Catawba River. After the four hour meeting the state legislators who sit on the Catawba-Wateree River Basin Commission had offered an olive branch in negotiating a truce over the Catawba by agreeing to draw a list of differences that could be resolved by a formal agreement. We hope to avoid a long court battle as they have had in other states, according to Charlotte Observer reporter Bruce Henderson.

This Week in Raleigh, 1-23-08

IBT Lawsuits Update

1 - The appeal filed with the Sate Office of Administration hearings.

This is where the Catawba Coalition along with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed an appeal against the State issuing an IBT of 10 MGD to Concord-Kannapolis. This appeal is moving very slowly, but that’s good because until it’s settled Concord-Kannapolis cannot proceed with the withdrawal; and depending on the outcome, may never. The argument so far has been over whether or not previously approved drought rules approved by the Environmental Management Commission, which were technically not finalized before the IBT was awarded, should have been in the certificate to Concord-Kannapolis. The State and the Catawba Coalition do not agree on this issue and have told the judge as much. The judge will make his ruling on this issue by January 31. All this time so far has been devoted to this one issue. Everyone said the case would be simple to solve. Sure. After this the discovery will start, which should take about five to six months with the first 90 days devoted to reports by the Coalition on our findings. Look for a long, long process.