ANOTHER DEMOCRAT RESIGNS AMIDST SCANDAL
Democrat appointee run from office after controversy

RALEIGH—North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner George Tatum, an appointee of Governor Easley resigned yesterday, another in a long line of Democrats to resign amidst controversies and scandals. The latest indiscretion involved Tatum helping a friend to get a replica of 1937 Ford truck wrongly titled as authentic.

Chairman Linda Daves, North Carolina Republican Party, made the following statement:

“What the heck is going on? Are there any honest Democrats in government or just crooked cronies? Democrats could not go a week from the sentencing of Jim Black without having another scandal revealed in our state government. How can we be surprised that George Tatum was forced to resign in disgrace? This is the same man who has been previously criticized for hiring Patrick Clancy, one of Jim Black’s former aides, to oversee DMV hearing officers. The only problem was that Clancy could not even be issued a state car because his driving record was so littered with violations. His job was supposed to be overseeing hearing officers not appearing before them.

Democrats in power have created a culture of corruption that has been allowed to fester for too long. It has already been a busy summer for Democrats as we have seen Mike Nifong resign, Kevin Geddings report to prison, with Jim Black following not far behind, and now this scandal. Tatum should not be allowed to get away with his indiscretions simply by resigning. An investigation into his actions must continue and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is time to end Democrat corruption in our state government even if that means weeding them out one at a time.”

If Tatum is convicted of a crime because of his behavior at the DMV, he could be the first public official to face forfeiture of his pension under the Officials Forfeit Pensions For Felonies Act (Session Law 2007­179).

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