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State GOP's 'for Sale' Campaign Targets Black: `Real Estate' Signs Display Web Site, `Corruption' Hot Line

Posted on: Thursday, 16 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Jim Morrill, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Mar. 16--N.C. Republicans stepped up their campaign against Democratic House Speaker Jim Black on Wednesday, launching a new "corruption" hot line and Web site and posting signs saying "House for Sale."

The barrage comes six days before state elections officials resume hearings into alleged campaign violations by Black and others.

At simultaneous news conferences in Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville, Republicans unveiled red, white and blue "real estate" signs that include Black's picture, the hot line number and Web site.

In Charlotte, Mecklenburg GOP Chairman John Aneralla described the House as "an institution where everything has a price and Jim Black is the top salesman."

He cited a litany of allegations, including that a Black aide worked as a lottery company lobbyist; that Black arranged a state job for a former legislative ally; and that the speaker received thousands in campaign contributions from fellow optometrists after requiring eye exams for incoming students.

Aneralla spoke at the home of Black's GOP opponent, Hal Jordan. They're competing in November in a district that includes east Charlotte and Matthews.

In a statement, Black said North Carolinians "are tired of these attacks."

"The people of North Carolina want their elected officials to focus on ... important issues, which is what I'm doing each and every day," he said. "It is absolutely unfortunate that some Republicans continue to sling mud and make up lies about me and other Democrats ... but it's not surprising, given their abysmal record on these issues."

Bill Peaslee, chief of staff for the state Republican Party, said it plans to distribute about 2,000 "for sale" signs in targeted districts represented by Democratic lawmakers who Republicans consider vulnerable.

"The goal here," Peaslee said, "is to make sure the citizens understand what's going on, what their incumbent Democrat representatives have said, or more importantly, haven't said about Jim Black."

Jim Morrill: (704) 358-5059.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

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