Checks from Benson and Charlotte optometrists might have ended up in the hands of two state lawmakers in 2003, according to testimony this morning in the state Board of Elections hearing.
William C. Adams of Benson testified that he turned over 12 $100 checks to the N.C. State Optometric Society’s political action committee in 2002.
Two of those checks ended up being cashed the next year by “Howard Hunter.” Two others were cashed by “Mike Decker.” Rep. Howard Hunter and former Rep. Michael Decker were political allies of N.C. House Speaker Jim Black.
Adams told the elections board he never intended those checks to be cashed for a candidate’s personal use. “That would concern me, yes.”
The story was similar for optometrist Michael Clark of Charlotte. He testified that he submitted more than a dozen checks to the optometrists’ political action group. Some of his checks also ended up being cashed by Mike Decker and Howard Hunter.
