Perdue campaign sought Parton's help

Perdue slammed opponent over theater, but her fundraiser wanted singer's money

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has hammered her opponent in the Democratic primary for governor over a beleaguered theater project in Roanoke Rapids that featured country singer Randy Parton.

But one month before Perdue's first Parton-related attack against State Treasurer Richard Moore, a fundraiser for Perdue's campaign pushed a Roanoke Rapids city official to raise $20,000 for her campaign from Parton and others.

Thomas Betts Jr. of Rocky Mount, the Perdue fundraiser, wrote an e-mail message in November to Rick Benton, director of economic development for Roanoke Rapids.

"Apologize for short notice, but Bev Perdue is coming to town next Tuesday. I need for you to raise $20,000.00 from the Partons, Michael and others. ... I'm counting on you! CHECK PAYABLE to Perdue for Governor."

The News & Observer obtained the message and confirmed its authenticity with Benton.

Betts is familiar with the area -- he has represented that region on the powerful state Board of Transportation since 2003, when Gov. Mike Easley appointed him to the post. In that role, Betts helped steer money for road projects to the area.

Betts, a 30-year insurance agent who works for RBC Bank, did not return phone messages Friday. Hours after a reporter asked officials in the governor's office about the e-mail message, Betts resigned from the board.

Perdue said in an interview Friday that her campaign had done nothing wrong.

The theater opened last year in Roanoke Rapids, a small town that is one of the last stops along I-95 on the way to Virginia, and ticket sales have been sluggish. City officials severed ties with Parton after questions were raised about how he spent public money and after an incident in which city officials say Parton showed up drunk for a performance. Parton has denied all the allegations against him and said the city has not done its part to make the project successful.

Perdue said that in December her campaign began telling fundraisers and staffers to steer clear of contributions from people connected to the theater. On Dec. 10, she launched her first attack accusing Moore of pushing a questionable deal through, only to benefit from campaign contributions. The next day, the Perdue campaign returned nearly $1,000 given by a man with close ties to the project.

$9,000 declined

On Dec. 28, a Perdue campaign official told Betts that the campaign would have to vet donors to ensure they weren't involved in the project, according to an e-mail message made available by the campaign. And in January, Perdue's campaign declined more than $9,000 from eight Roanoke Rapids contributors, a spokesman said.

Campaign finance reports covering November and December have not yet been filed.

"I did what I believe gave me arms-length distance from the Parton project," Perdue said. "I believe my campaign has been above board on all this."

The e-mail message encapsulates two major issues the Democrats are pushing in the race for governor. Perdue's key campaign issue has been the theater formerly named The Randy Parton Theatre and Moore's involvement in authorizing the city's plans to borrow money for it. Moore has emphasized the need to stop the fundraising activities of Board of Transportation members, nearly all of whom are active donors and fundraisers.

Betts raised $30,000 for Easley and $55,000 more for two other candidates in the two years before his appointment, according to a disclosure form that board members must file. He and his wife have given $8,000 to Perdue, according to campaign finance records.