Heard on the Street Posted: Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 State Senator Boseman Won`t Run
Rumors around Wilmington indicate that Senator Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) will not seek re-election to her seat in 2010. She is telling friends that her law practice suffers due to the lengthy sessions of the legislature. We understand her life partner will be having a baby. Boseman spent more than most any other incumbent Senator in 2008 to get re-elected.
We hear that Republican Thom Goolsby plans to run again for the Senate seat. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo is saying he will also make the race if Boseman does not run.
Bonded Term Limits
The Alliance for Bonded Term Limits has been formed to ensure candidates do more than play lip service to the promise of term limits. Candidates are required to sign a pledge that they will not serve beyond a prescribed number of terms. To ensure they follow through on this pledge the candidate is required to pledge personal assets as a bond. If the candidate fails to step down after the prescribed number of years the bond is forfeited. You can get more information here.
The first candidate in the nation to make such a pledge is Will Breazeale, who will challenge 7th District Congressman Mike McIntyre. Breazeale was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in three combat tours in Iraq and currently serves as a captain for Air Tran. The formal announcement and signing of the pledge will be held today in Wilmington.
A Donnybrook in Sampson, Duplin and Lenoir Counties
Will incumbent Democratic State Senator Charlie Albertson seek re-election? That`s a big question in Sampson, Lenoir and Duplin Counties. Sampson District Attorney Dewey Hudson is the leading candidate for the Democrats but he may face a primary from former State Representative Nurham Warrick, also of Clinton. Another name being mentioned is two-term State Representative Van Braxton of Kinston.
But wait there`s more.
The Republican Mayor of Clinton, Lew Starling, is making noise that he may consider a run for the seat. Starling has close ties with State Representative Leo Daughtry of Smithfield and would be a strong GOP candidate in a district that leans to the right. It could be a good pick up for the Republicans especially if there is a major Democratic fight in the primary.
NC Dems Watching Virginia Elections Close
The latest Public Policy Poll out of Virginia indicates that the GOP will likely sweep the upcoming elections in less than two weeks. The GOP nominees for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General are mounting double-digit leads. North Carolina Dems are watching the polls turn in favor of the GOP with horror as the Democratic Party plans to mount a strategy for next year`s legislative elections. We hear Speaker of the House Joe Hackney is reaching out to his pollsters and PPP to get a handle on how to build a message that will stem the GOP`s rising tide. House staffers are watching budget numbers closely and are trying to find any legislative issue that will click with voters. State Democratic leaders are planning to pull out all the stops to maintain their majorities in the State House and Senate to preserve the power of re-districting that will be coming in 2011.
Virginia Politicians Waiting on NC Board of Elections Hearing
Republican political operatives in the Commonwealth of Virginia will be watching the North Carolina State Board of Elections hearing in Raleigh next week to see if former campaign manager Jay Reiff`s name is mentioned in the Easley investigation. Reiff is engaged in Virginia`s election cycle right now heading up the NEA`s outreach and turnout effort. GOP campaigners want to try to link Reiff back to the Creigh Deeds campaign especially if there are any signs of potential or alleged scandal.
Dalton Looking for Press Secretary
Heard on the Street understands the Lt. Governor Walter Dalton is looking for a new press secretary. No word on his former communications director Sara Lang. Several current reporters have been interviewed for the position so a new talking head for the Lt. Gov. should be coming soon.
The Easley Investigation Update
The State Board of Elections is expected to release the names of persons who have been subpoenaed to next week`s hearing in Raleigh on Friday. Reports indicate there could be some “bombshells” coming when the SBOE hearings begin next week.
There are reports that the U.S. Attorney`s office is working with at least one, maybe more, persons of interest who are cooperating in the Easley investigation and have asked for an immunity agreement. The word is that at least one major Eastern North Carolina political fund-raiser has been granted such an immunity agreement. That could be real interesting on multiple fronts.
Meanwhile, sources close to Governor Beverly Perdue point out there is a clear-cut difference between her airplane charters and those of former Governor Mike Easley. We hear Perdue`s campaign booked the chartered flights directly and paid for the chartered flights with campaign funds. The Easley campaign ran the chartered flights through the Democratic Party and used party funds to pay for the trips.
The big question will be for both camps will be -- was there a quid pro quo? Did the use of a corporate jet help or benefit any of those who made the planes available? Some people suggest that if Easley is vulnerable here, then the sitting Governor may have some issues too. But most observers we have talked to don`t believe the airplane issue is getting any play with the Feds – that is purely a compliance issue with the State Board of Elections and that the issue will die down because the Easley campaign and Perdue campaign disclosed the expenses.
NC Senate District 3 Primary Watch
State Senator Clark Jenkins is going to get a major primary challenge. Greenville businessman Frankie Bordeaux is making the rounds telling Democrat Party officials in Martin, Edgecombe and Pitt counties that he will be running next February. Bordeaux is the former executive director of the Girls & Boys Clubs in Edgecombe County. Bordeaux is perhaps best known as a basketball referee with the NCAA. Bordeaux, an African American, is making his first run for public office. NC Senate District 3 is a minority/majority district.
State Budget Crunchers Watching Monthly Figures
The folks at the NC Department of Revenue don`t have to worry about manicures these days because they are constantly biting their nails looking at tax collections. Governor Perdue has been telling political leaders across the state the numbers remain down and out – but the budget office forecasted a -5% growth rate. So budget analysts believe the Governor can make spending adjustments and additional cuts to avoid major cash flow problems they encountered at the end of the last fiscal year. Some in the budget office are saying it`s not as bad as it could be…
NBC News Looking Into Senator John Edwards Story
A NBC Nightly News crew is poking around the Capital City looking into the federal probe of former U.S. Senator John Edwards. The crew has been making telephone calls and visiting the Federal Courthouse – we`ll have to wait and see what the report says…
Golf and the GOP State Senate
State Senator Phil Berger made a huge haul in PAC contributions during the GOP State Senate Golf Tournament held near Clayton earlier this week. No official word on the take but attendees claim it was the most successful fundraising event the GOP State Senate Caucus has had in recent years.
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