Donations to Black ally under scrutiny

Records reveal unreported funds

RALEIGH -- State officials are investigating the failure of N.C. Rep. Thomas Wright, a top lieutenant to former House Speaker Jim Black, to report more than $100,000 in campaign contributions since 1992.

A similar inquiry was conducted last year regarding former Rep. Michael Decker, another Black ally, who later pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The State Board of Elections is handling the criminal investigation of Wright.

It is a misdemeanor to intentionally fail to report a campaign contribution, and it is a felony -- perjury -- to knowingly submit a campaign report that is false.

The question remains: What did Wright do with the money? Some omissions might be from lost checks or bad recordkeeping, but Wright also has a history of personal financial difficulties.

Wright declined to answer any questions this week.

"Do your own research," he said.

Wright stepped down from his chairmanship of two House committees this month at the urging of House Speaker Joe Hackney, a Democrat from Chapel Hill. Hackney issued a statement Friday saying he hoped the investigation would conclude soon.

Board of Elections records show numerous instances of a donor giving Wright money, but the funds never appeared on Wright's records. Those omissions have become part of the elections board's investigation, according to Gary Bartlett, the board's executive director.

The political action committee for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, for example, wrote Wright a check for $1,000 on Dec. 16, 2005.

"It did show up on our records" as having been cashed, said Lew Borman, a Blue Cross spokesman.

Wright's reports don't include the contribution.