Lanny Wilson, a Wilmington developer and lawyer who resigned last week from the State Board of Transportation, today also gave up his seat as vice chairman of the N.C. Turnpike Authority.

Wilson was a key money man for the campaigns of former Gov. Mike Easley and Gov. Bev Perdue. He testified in a State Board of Elections hearing that he gave large checks to the Democratic Party that he expected would be in turn given to Easley's campaign.

He was a prominent part of the indictment issued last week against Easley aide Ruffin Poole. The indictment said Wilson helped Poole to invest in developments that Poole was also taking official actions to help.

"Just a quick email to advise you that I have submitted my resignation to the appropriate people in Senator Basnight's office," Wilson said today in e-mail to David Joyner, the turnpike authority's executive director. ... [MORE]

Gary Allen, a developer, doesn't remember anything about writing two $50,000 checks to the N.C. Democratic Party.

Lanny Wilson, a friend and business associate to Allen, testified Monday that he briefed former Gov. Mike Easley on a list of things Allen wanted including his seat on the Wildlife Commission and a permit for a boat dock.

Wilson testified that an inner circle of big Easley donors understood that big checks to the party would go directly to Easley's campaign.

Allen, a Charlotte native who now lives in Florida, said he doesn't remember talking to the governor about his permit or any circumstances around writing the checks.

"I don't recall the real details on it," Allen said. "Over the course of those years and a few years before, I've made many contributions, not only to candidates and the Democratic Party, but a lot of nonprofits as well. I don't recall the specifics of that."

Nearly every answer Allen gave during his testimony Tuesday began with the words, "I don't recall."

Gary Allen (center), a Charlotte developer and fundraiser, is in the hearing room with his attorney Steve Smith, left. The Board of Elections isn't sharing its witness list or who is likely to be called on which day, but Allen's prescence is a good sign that he'll be up.

Allen gave the N.C. Democratic Party a $50,000 contribution and developer Lanny Wilson testified that such contributions were understood to be headed to Gov. Mike Easley. Wilson gave Easley a briefing memo that included lots of things that Allen might want, such as a dock permit or to keep his seat on the Wildlife Commission.

Staff photo by Chris Seward. 

The first day of the State Board of Elections hearing included plenty of big moments.

Here are four highlights of today's testimony.

HOUSE WORK: Gov. Mike Easley had problems with the renters in his Raleigh home. He asked his friend and political supporter, McQueen Campbell to take care of it. Twice Campbell fixed up the house at a cost of $11,000 or more. Campbell testified that when he asked Easley for money, he understood the governor wanted him to file a false invoice for a flight.

WASN'T ME: Easley's defense may be geared around putting blame on others. Easley's lawyer took pains to point out that Easley never told Campbell to falsify invoices and that Easley's campaign didn't pay for flights because Campbell never submitted invoices for them.

WISH LIST: Fundraiser Lanny Wilson briefed Easley on a host of helpful facts to get him ready for his meeting with Gary Allen, a Charlotte fundraiser. Easley needed to know that Allen wanted to keep his seat on the Wildlife Commission and was trying to get a permit for a boat dock. The meeting went well. Allen gave $50,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party.

PARTY MAN: Easley fundraisers said they were told by Easley's campaign that big checks given to the party would go to the Easley campaign. The message was delivered Wilson said, by Easley attorney and aide Ruffin Poole.

Lanny Wilson testified Monday that he gave his then-fiance money so that she could give a contribution to former Gov. Mike Easley.

State law says donors can't give in the name of another.

"No individual, political committee, or other entity shall make any contribution anonymously or in the name of another."

A eastern North Carolina developer, fundraiser and Board of Transportation member testified that he gave checks to the Democratic Party that he expected to be in turn given to former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign.

Lanny Wilson said he and his wife wrote checks to the Easley campaign and were told to re-write the checks for the N.C. Democratic Party.

"It was my understanding that they would flow through the state Democratic Party and the Easley Committee would pay expenses," Wilson said.

Wilson said representatives of the Easley campaign told him it was legal to write checks to the party that were meant for Easley. State law limits contributions to a candidate to $4,000 per election cycle.

There is no limit on contributions to a political party, but checks cannot be designated for a specific purpose.