Among the revelations contained in documents released by the office of Speaker Jim Black included conversations between Black?s son and lobbyist Meredith Norris:
Memos show that when Jon Black, who heads a pest control business, proposed two candidates for the state pest control board in 2002, Black’s office attempted to accommodate him, in part by trying to expand the board.
At least one candidate suggested by Jon Black ultimately was appointed to the board.
Jim Black said he doesn’t own any part of Black Pest Control, which was started by his father, and that he made no phone calls about board appointments. He said he supported expanding the board to balance it with more representatives from the industry, at the request of the industry’s association.
A memo from his office to Jon Black about adding a seat to the board came from Norris.
“We are going to see if Sen. Basnight will agree to add another person to the Structural Pest Control Board so that we can put both of your nominees on the board. If you will, please have those two candidates send me their resumes ASAP so I will have something to substantiate it in the file.”
Black said that didn’t end up happening.
“We chose not to do that,” Black said. “My son’s a good-looking guy and Meredith Norris was trying to help him.”
Did the speaker just insult Norris by suggesting that she sought to have state policy changed to favor the friends of ?a good-looking guy?? Odd statement to make, indeed.
