Hartsell takes center stage on Senate floor after indictment

Sen. Fletcher Hartsell began a floor speech Tuesday evening with the words: “Today has been a pretty tough day for me, as many of you probably know.”

Hartsell’s emotional speech came hours after a Wake County grand jury indicted the longest-serving state senator on three low-level felony counts alleging that he signed false campaign finance reports.

The Concord Republican spoke about his wife of 43 years, calling her the “most long-suffering person that I know.”

His wife, Tana, sat in the gallery. Hartsell said his wife looked after their three children for 26 years while he served in the Senate. She has worked as a missionary in destitute countries across the world, including Bangladesh, Lebanon, Chile and Guatemala. “I’d say that she's had to live through a lot, the love of my life, Tana,” Hartsell said, choking up. The Senate applauded her.

“There is no better member of this chamber, no one who I respect more,” said Sen. Floyd McKissick, a Durham Democrat. “In life we go through difficult times and challenges. We don’t know what the twists of fate will bring. You always must have faith. You almost always just have to be persistent and believe that you will overcome whatever the challenges may be. But I want you to know my thoughts, my prayers are with you.”

In adjourning Tuesday’s session, Senate leader Phil Berger, an Eden Republican, echoed McKissick’s statements.

Sen. Stan Bingham, a Davidson County Republican and Hartsell’s close friend, joked that Hartsell sent in Bingham’s campaign report rather than his own.

“I regret that, Sen. Hartsell, but, you know, sometimes it pays to look at what you're signing,” Bingham said to laughs. Then he got serious. “Fletcher, we all think the world of you, and youve done lot of wonderful things for this state, and I just want to thank you for your friendship through the years as well,” Bingham said. “It’s meant a lot to me.”

Sen. Jerry Tillman, a Randolph County Republican, said he admired Hartsell’s institutional knowledge. “The best thing we can do to sort of celebrate this friendship is to meet at Johnson’s in Siler City for a cheeseburger, all the way, with the Velveeta cheese about that thick on it. We’re going to do that,” Tillman said.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Hartsell takes center stage on Senate floor after indictment."