Two Dems want Black out as speaker

Two state House Democrats, Alice Underhill of New Bern and Lorene Coates of Salisbury, on Tuesday repeated their calls for House Speaker Jim Black to step down from his leadership job.

They took the same position last spring, before the 2 1/2-month legislative session started. State and federal investigators are looking into Black's legislative and fundraising activities.

Since the session ended in late July, former Republican Rep. Michael Decker has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in federal court, saying he was paid to support Black for speaker in 2003.

Black, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, has said he did not offer Decker anything for his vote and has done nothing wrong. Black has not been charged.

Last week, Black's former political director, Meredith Norris, pleaded no contest in Wake District Court to a misdemeanor charge that she violated state law by not registering as a lobbyist for a lottery company.

Coates called the situation "a disgrace."

"I don't think we need to wait on the courts," she said. "I think we need to do the right thing now."

Underhill and Coates face challenging re-election campaigns. Underhill is in a district that leans Republican, and Coates is in a swing district. Republicans hope to use the questions about Democratic candidates' ties to Black to defeat them in November.

Coates and Underhill said their districts' residents are asking their opinions about Black.

"I think it is a huge distraction to my constituents," Underhill said. "They can't believe he's still the speaker."

Julie Robinson, Black's spokeswoman, said members are free to express their opinions and Black respected their views.

Robinson, in a statement, touted the session's accomplishments.

"Speaker Black stands by his record of accomplishments on education, health care and improving our state's economy, and he encourages all members to stay focused on making additional progress on these important issues, which is what the people of North Carolina want and deserve," she said.

Easley silent on Black flap

Gov. Mike Easley decided not to weigh in on the latest chapter of the political questions building around Black.

"We are not going to comment on an ongoing investigation," Sherri Johnson, a spokeswoman for Easley, said after Norris' sentencing on a lobbying law misdemeanor Friday.

Easley, a Democrat, was not quiet about Decker's recent admission that he received $50,000 in campaign checks and cash in exchange for supporting Black for speaker in 2003. Easley called the scandal "a blight upon the state," though he declined to talk about Black.

Norris was Black's unpaid political director until last fall, when it became public that she had been working for lottery company Scientific Games.

Smart Start leader leaving

Karen Ponder, president of the N.C. Partnership for Children, known as Smart Start, is leaving the organization after more than seven years. The partnership board announced Ponder's resignation this week.

Ponder will stay another six months.

"She has done an exemplary job leading Smart Start, and her spirit, skill, professionalism and drive will be greatly missed," said board Chairman Ashley Thrift.

Merritt fundraiser on tap

State Auditor Les Merritt has a fund-raiser planned for Thursday at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh, with a contribution range from $4,000 for those who want to be event chairmen down to $50 for people who just want to attend.

Merritt, a Republican in his first term, has a debt of nearly $200,000 in his campaign account and will likely run for re-election.

"I certainly haven't heard anything to the contrary," said Frank Williams, Merritt's campaign manager.