An N.C. elections board member suggested she sees signs that a video poker industry group tried to exceed limits on campaign contributions to House Speaker Jim Black.
In discussing money orders used for contributions, board member Lorraine Shinn had the following exchange with Richard “Dicky” McCannell of Lexington:
Shinn: Wouldn’t that be a way when you filled in a candidate’s name without forwarding it to the PAC of diverting the money so you could exceed the contributions?
McCannell: No.
Shinn: Well, why wouldn’t it be?
McCannell: Because we never exceeded any of these contributions.
Shinn: Well, you would have for that organization had you sent it to the organization, which is in a way trying to go around the law.
Shinn also raised concerns about the number of money orders involved. She said the money orders suggested a large amount of cash from video poker machines and other amusement machines had been translated into campaign contributions.
