Some party cruise revelers pay state

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CORRECTION

In the Under the Dome column Friday, an item incorrectly stated that Connie Mack Berry Jr. cannot vote for his wife, Rachel Lea Hunter, a Supreme Court candidate, because of his felony record. Berry can vote for her Nov. 7 because state law allows felons to vote again as soon as they complete their sentences, according to state election officials.

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Eleven elected officials have repaid the state Ports Authority for their part in a much-criticized state-funded party cruise aboard a state ferry during the tall ships festival at Beaufort this summer.

Combined, the repayments came to $2,954. The cost to the state for the cruise topped $30,000, much of it on seafood, alcohol and a steel drum band.

Ports officials calculated the cost per person at $91.25, though some did not follow that as a guideline when submitting payment.

In a report assessing the event, Gov. Mike Easley did not hold responsible those who attended. Those who repaid did so on their own.

Here is the list of state officials who repaid and the amount:

* Sen. Pete Bland, a Vanceboro Democrat, $91.25.

* Rep. Bill Daughtridge, a Rocky Mount Republican, $182.50.

* Rep. Margaret Dickson, a Fayetteville Democrat, $181.50.

* Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Cary Republican, $200.

* Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, $273.75.

* Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, a Democrat, $200.

* Rep. Marian McLawhorn, a Grifton Democrat, $730.

* Rep. Mitchell Setzer, a Catawba Republican, $365.

* Rep. Russell Tucker, a Pink Hill Democrat, $182.50.

* Rep. Laura Wiley, a High Point Republican, $365.

* Rep. Art Williams, a Washington Democrat, $182.50.

According to multiple officials who were on the ship, other legislators on the trip included Reps. Phil Frye, a Spruce Pine Republican; Ed Jones, an Enfield Democrat; Edith Warren, a Farmville Democrat; and Sen. Robert Holloman, an Ahoskie Democrat.

Spouse's role limited

Connie Mack Berry Jr., the husband of state Supreme Court candidate Rachel Lea Hunter, can do many things to help his wife's campaign: put up yard signs, hand out campaign literature, extol her virtues on blogs.

But he cannot vote for her.

Berry, 67, was convicted in Georgia years ago of swindling customers of his jewelry business, according to news reports in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Berry is active in his wife's unconventional campaign. She has been disowned by state Democrat Party leaders for describing a black Republican candidate as a slave, rebuked by former UNC basketball coach Dean Smith for claiming he endorsed her, and rebuffed in an effort to get her nickname, "Madame Justice," on the ballot. State election officials said the nickname would mislead the public because Hunter has never been a judge.

Hunter, a Cary lawyer, is running against an incumbent, Mark Martin, who has been an associate justice since 1998.

Berry was convicted in Georgia in 1997 of bilking 27 customers out of $285,000, according to newspaper reports. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution during 7 1/2 years of probation. Berry was accused of taking gold and silver he never paid for. Berry was already in prison on charges related to a money order scam and replacing a diamond on a customer's ring with a fake stone, according to news accounts.

In 1983, Berry faced charges in Florida for swindling 37 customers out of $75,000, according to news accounts. He pleaded no contest to four misdemeanors for failing to fill orders for precious metals. He was fined $2,500 and given a year's probation.

In e-mail to The News & Observer, Berry explained that at the time of his pleas in Georgia, he was sick with cancer and had recently lost a wife and sister to brain aneurysms.

"Under the advice of my attorneys, it was easier to enter a plea and not incur any additional intense stress in a complicated and complex case," Berry wrote.

In an earlier interview, Berry said the Georgia charges were politically motivated. Berry had several failed runs for public office in Marietta, Ga., where he was a businessman.

"I had an empire," he said. "I made a lot of enemies."