Some political observers have been surprised to learn about shenanigans associated with former Gov. Mike Easley. The continuing revelations do not surprise former Carolina Journal Associate Editor Paul Chesser (now director of Climate Strategies Watch), whose column on past dealings with Easley appeared recently in the Monroe Enquirer-Journal. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans highlighted this week a CJ story from contributor Jim Stegall about Easley’s potential education “legacy.” Before he helped shine a light on Easley’s dubious activities, Don Carrington helped expose the crooked activity that sent former state senator and congressman Frank Ballance to prison. In a half-hour interview posted on WRAL Television’s Web site this week, Ballance acknowledged the John Locke Foundation’s efforts to investigate him. In other CJ-related news, the Carolina Politics Online Web site featured an article from Associate Editor David Bass that highlighted waste of gas-tax revenue for expenses associated with a state air-quality lawsuit.
