It’s a familiar theme — optometrists across North Carolina agreed to give their political action committee thousands of dollars in blank checks, with the understanding that the money would be used for political campaign funds.
Winston-Salem optometrist Michael Burke is the latest to express concern that some checks appeared to end up in the hands of lawmakers for their personal use. Testimony this morning showed some of Burke’s checks were cashed by Mike Decker and Howard Hunter.
State elections board chairman Larry Leake asked Burke whether he would find it objectionable if Decker and Hunter used the money for personal expenses. “I would,” Burke said. “That was not the intent of the contribution.”
Burke also testified that the blank checks were considered a common practice, and he and other leaders in the N.C. State Optometric Society were expected to contribute money for political campaigns.
N.C. House Speaker Jim Black is an optometrist. Burke testified that Black regularly attended the optometrists’ annual campaign and encouraged his colleagues to get involved with the political process.
