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.
Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Sen. Marc Basnight, the Senate leader, confirmed that Basnight had received Wilson's resignation letter.
The turnpike authority is building the $1 billion Triangle Expressway in western Wake County and Research Triangle Park, the state's first modern toll road. Wilson championed the authority's Cape Fear Skyway project, a proposed $1.3 billion road and bridge in Wilmington. He participated by telephone in the turnpike board's monthly meeting last Wednesday.
Perdue now will find a replacement for Wilson on the Board of Transportation, where he represented Division 3, including New Hanover and five other southeastern counties. Basnight, who had asked Perdue to make Wilson her state transportation secretary, now will pick his successor on the turnpike board.
Wilson previously served four years on the N.C. Real Estate Commission and was former general counsel and vice president of Boney Wilson & Sons Inc.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
Just more proof of corruption on NC Board of Transportation
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 14:02 — category5The whole Transportation Board should be disbanded. They are nothing but political hacks. They help get a Governor elected then the Governor pays he/she back by appointing them to this or another Board. They misappropriate funds for pet projects in their area of the State and then hid behind the "Equity Formula." It's a corrupt organization just like the ABC Boards and they should be disbanded. It will never happen however, how else would the Easly's and Perdue's of the world reward those who help get them elected?
Wilson was asked to resign
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 17:46 — PoliticalJunkieThen did so. Ought to put the whole story out there.
http://www.ncstatesenate.com/2010/01/25/perdue%E2%80%99s-commitment-to-fighting-corruption-in-question/
Why Basnight's office?
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 16:13 — Taxpayer2008"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."
Seems like Sen. Basnight should get the 'quick e-mail' and the Executive Director should get the letter of resignation. I guess he knows who butters bread down at the coast.
Because ...
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 19:17 — BruceSiceloff (author)Good question. Basnight received the letter of resignation because Wilson was his appointee to the board.