VOTE 2010: Redwine – campaign cash reports ‘administrative foul-up’

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — State Senate candidate David Redwine says his campaign’s financial reports clearly include “an administrative foul-up,” which accounts for reports of cash donations larger than the legally-allowed amount.

Friday the North Carolina Republican Party sent out a news release accusing the Democrat from Brunswick County of illegally taking cash contributions made to his campaign in July, August and September. North Carolina election law prohibits cash contributions in excess of $50.

“You would think after the campaign finance scandals involving Democrat Governors Bev Perdue and Mike Easley, Democrats would have at least figured out that you cannot take cash contributions of more than $50,” North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer said in a statement.

The GOP release pointed to seven instances where Redwine’s campaign reported cash donations of more than $50. WWAY found the donations on pages 8 and 9 of the 49 pages of “Contributions from Individuals” in Redwine for Senate’s third quarter disclosure report.

Redwine defended the disclosure report saying it was simply an accounting mistake where someone must have taken multiple smaller donations at campaign events and lumped them together to form a larger sum.

“We’re not that stupid,” Redwine, a former state representative, told WWAY by phone Friday morning. “I’ve been around long enough to know you can’t take cash like that.”

Redwine said he and his campaign will correct the reports.

Redwine is running again Republican Bill Rabon for the 8th District Senate seat, which represents Brunswick, Columbus and Pender Counties. The seat is currently held by R.C. Soles, who is retiring after 17 terms in the Senate.