Conflicts of Interest

[Forum Member]

A new state law that took effect on January 1, 2022 requires local government elected officials who serve on nonprofit boards to recuse themselves from decisions to provide government funding to those organizations.
https://www.ncnonprofits.org/content/ne ... fit-boards

In the candidates forum, we explored which candidates had conflicts of interest. Keep in mind the legal definition of "conflicts of interest" is different than what voters believe to be a conflict of interest. This is how the incoming 2022 candidates answered the question: "Are you or any of your family members currently serving on other boards or non-profit organizations in Haywood County? If yes, please explain and list them."

http://haywoodhappenings.org/candidates/candidates.htm

Now let's explore which already-elected people (or their family) also sit on boards or non-profit organizations in Haywood County.

The actual new law:
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislatio ... 14-234.pdf
(The new law is for populations over 20,000 which would include Haywood County but exclude the towns in Haywood County. But in the spirit of the new law in what it implies, the free press should call out the conflicts of interest.)

One might expect the free press to dig into what this year-old law is and to what degree elected people and non-profits are compliant with the law and spirit of the law and where this might reshape the power structure in our near future. Would Haywood County being a population greater than 20,000 have to undo some of their appropriations for 2022 IF (research would have to be done to pull voting records to see who abstained) elected people voted for budgets with them (or their immediate families) being board members? In any case, all this connectedness is valuable for the voters to consider going forward as we made clear in the 2022 elections.

[Forum Member]

Keven Ensley -- Chairman of Haywood County Commissioner

Note that most would consider it a conflict of interest if Kevin Ensley voted as Chairman of Haywood County to give taxpayer money to his wife's employer.

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[Forum Member]

Waynesville Alderman Julia Freeman

Most would consider it a conflict of interest if Waynesville Alderman Julia Freeman voted to give taxpayer money to an organization that employs her:

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$10,000 to REACH

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[Forum Member]

Waynesville Alderman Anthony Sutton

Most would consider it a conflict of interest if Alderman Sutton voted on the Waynesville budget with tax funds given to the Haywood Healthcare Foundation -- that he serves as the chairman of the executive board.

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$2,500 to Haywood Healthcare Foundation

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[Forum Member]

Former Haywood Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick

Most would consider it a conflict of interest if Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick was voting to give taxpayer money to the Haywood Chamber of Commerce, of which he was a board member along with both owners of both local newspapers.

http://haywoodtp.net/pubII/Form990Haywo ... 289150.pdf

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[Forum Member]

Commissioner Jennifer Best

Most would consider it a conflict of interest if Jennifer Best were to vote to fund Vaya -- which she serves as a board member.

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[Forum Member]

Brandon Rogers on the board of Mountain Projects

Most would consider it a conflict of interest of Haywood County Commissioner Brandon Rogers voted to fund Mountain Projects with taxpayer money.

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