#ncga: Stein-ball affair “under review” in Currituck
Another driveby media outlet on the coast is sounding 
off on Stein-ball (aka “The Steinburg Invitational”):
[…] What the county is buying is advertising and promotion, said Currituck travel and tourism director Tameron Kugler in an email this week. The county is buying that exposure with occupancy tax money designated for promotion, Kugler said.[…]
[…] But, Rep. Steinburg said in a telephone interview this week, politics happened. Steinburg claims some of his political opponents have been trying to make what he calls something out of nothing.[…]
Sort of like how his top aide’s felony indictment is little more than a “contract dispute,” eh? ( *EVERYBODY is picking on poor Bob.*)
MORE:
[…] Before he formed WolfeStein in 2017, a company that organizes basketball tournaments and finds sponsors, Steinburg said he talked with state ethics officials about it, and had discussions about contracting with Currituck as well. […]
Isn’t it interesting how ol’ Bob keeps saying he’s in the clear, but the state ethics office can’t recall discussing this with him? Also, Steinburg can’t seem to produce any kind of documentation blessing the ethics of this deal. (Perhaps none of it actually happened? Or none of it actually exists?)
MORE:
[…] When he talked with county commissioners about the protocol he should follow in discussing the tournament, Steinburg said he was directed to the travel and tourism department.[…]
A department governed, of course, by his good pal Bobby Hanig.
MORE:
[…] Steinburg, who has represented Currituck in Raleigh for six years, called the tournament a great opportunity to promote his district’s beaches. He said he also talked with Dare County about the tournament, even though not in his district, but Currituck responded first.
Steinburg said he hopes it will be the beginning of a long business relationship with the county.[…]
Really? An elected official who has influence over the county’s relations with the state government doing private business with said county? And NO ONE is troubled with the potential ethics minefield there?
MORE:
[…] County manager Dan Scanlon said the recent scrutiny has not been about the scope or value of the contract, but rather who the contract is with.[…]
Actually, we’ve asked a lot more than that. Currituck county documents 
require tourism money to be spent IN THE COUNTY. The money they gave Steinburg is being spent in Chowan and Wake and Buncombe counties, among others.
Why would there be no discussion about giving $50,000 to someone who has NO EXPERIENCE performing the service in question?
Also, it appears key provisions of the WolfeStein proposal and the contract with the county were not being fulfilled until we started poking around and posting stories.
I’ve spent some time around government bureaucracies. I know that, if a county board chairman lets a county manager know a certain deal or transaction is important to him, that transaction or deal is taken care of post-haste. How do you say NO to the county board chairman (and keep your job)?
MORE:
[…] There is policy in place that defines Scanlon’s authority to execute contracts. Scanlon said that all such contracts are vetted through travel and tourism, and they also get attorney review. […]
So, NO public discussion or votes at all on awarding county government contracts? (*What could go wrong?*)
MORE:
[…] Scanlon added that there is no policy that suggests who the contract is with should be part of the vetting process. However, many commissioners say that policy needs to be discussed and perhaps changed.[…]
“I think if it is over a certain amount it, should be public. Takes the bad optics out of it. People always assume the absolute worst even if there is nothing there,” said commissioner Bob White, who represents District 1.[…]
I’m sure your constituents were under the impression you were on that board making sure their money wasn’t being tossed around willy-nilly to just anyone claiming to be a “basketball tournament promoter.”
MORE:
[…] “We cannot continue to do what we’ve always done in the past and we as commissioners have given our county manager the discretion to approve contracts to a certain threshold,” said commissioner Marion Gilbert, who represents District 5. “That being said, if some feel we have given to much leniency than I believe we revisit those policies. As far as contracting with elected officials that is certainly something that we need to look at, especially when there is direct benefit to that particular individual. Seems to be a hot topic on the forefront of the news lately.”
[…]
“I think open discussion about a policy is a good thing,” said commissioner Paul Beaumont, who represents District 4.
Chairman Bobby Hanig said he wanted to discuss the matter with the board before speaking publicly. […]
Um, the discussion with your colleagues should have happened BEFORE the $50K got handed off to your pal Steinburg.
There should be competitive bidding for $50,000 worth of county advertising, not a rotten backroom deal with an inexperienced political crony. This just reeks.
The Currituck Board of Commissioners does need to review this taxpayer ripoff scam because their own chairperson, Bobbie “Hot Lips” Hanig is up to his/her eyeballs in it with his/her pal Steinburg. Of course, as a practical matter, that means there will probably be an attempted whitewash coming by election day.
I hate to give up legislative seats, but maybe the GOP would be better off without these two corrupt buffoons.
This “Couple” is so corrupt that they couldn’t wait to get to Raleigh for the back room deals! They started way before.
Write in folks. Twiddly/Boswell
I agree. The citizens and voters should avoid voting for these self serving idiots at all cost. But the Dems are much worse so I agree we need to write in Twiddy for Senate and Boswell for House.
I like the write in idea. I’m sick of dishonest corruption by elected officials to make money off their priviledge of holding elected office.