Two more state lawmakers took center stage this morning, as the N.C. Board of Elections continued to look into possible violations of state campaign finance laws.
The board questioned Rep. Howard Hunter of Winton and Sen. Robert Holloman of Ahoskie for nearly 90 minutes.
Hunter has represented Hertford County since 1989. He filed no campaign finance reports for the 2002 and 2004 election cycles. He says he did not expect to meet the threshold requirement of $3,000 in contributions.
Elections board chairman Larry Leake says the board’s investigators found that Hunter raised about $3,500 in the 2002 cycle and spent more than $4,300. Both figures would trigger a reporting requirement.
The numbers were much higher for 2004:
Leake: Does it surprise you to learn then, sir, that based upon the review of your bank records that it appears that in the 2004 election cycle you received campaign contributions totalling $9,180?
Hunter: Nine thousand! Oh, yes, that surprises the heck out of me!
He added later: “I’m floored that it was that much.”
Hunter had no documents to counter the elections board’s figures. He says he kept all his campaign finance information in an attache case in his car. Hunter says that attache case disappeared a few weeks ago.
Holloman has served a senator since 2003, taking the seat previously held by Frank Ballance. Holloman has filed reports for the past two campaign cycles. But those reports have raised a number of questions for the elections board.
“If you have nothing to hide, sir, why is that your campaign report does not disclose $23,275 that have been found in your bank records?” Leake asked Holloman. More than $10,000 within that total covers checks of up to $100 that were not disclosed in total.
Holloman admitted he might have made mistakes. He stressed several times that he was not trying to deceive anyone.
Robert Holloman has nothing to hide. I have not tried to hide anything. And I will say to you honestly — without any hesitation whatsoever — I have no problem cooperating, working with you. If we have some mistakes, we don’t mind correcting the form or doing what we need to do. But we have not intentionally tried to hide or defraud anything.
He added: “Some of these things I just don’t understand.”
