[HPN] Homeless man runs for N.C. state auditor

[Coalition on Homelessness, SF]

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Homeless man runs for N.C. state auditor

Copyright
© 2000 Nando Media Copyright
© 2000 Associated Press


From Time to Time: Nando's in-depth look at the 20th century

By SCOTT MOONEYHAM

RALEIGH (February 10, 2000 9:34 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - As
a candidate for North Carolina's state auditor, Kenneth Ray Campbell had
all the qualifications that Republican Party district chairman Nate
Pendley was looking for.

He was not a registered Republican, and he shared the same last name
with the incumbent Democrat, Ralph Campbell.

Pendley said Thursday that he wasn't aware Kenneth Campbell also has a
long history of criminal offenses, has served time in prison and has
been homeless for several years.

"I did not know that two weeks ago this man was found by police under a
bridge," Pendley said.

Kenneth Campbell, 50, and Pamela Ann Connell of Clemmons both registered
to run against Ralph Campbell in the Democratic primary for auditor
earlier this week after being encouraged by Pendley, a Forsyth County
lawyer and close friend of Republican auditor candidate Jack Daly.

Daly submitted candidacy registration papers and the $1,003 filing fee
for the two Democrats just minutes before the filing deadline Monday.

Daly, a Charlotte lawyer who lost to Ralph Campbell in the 1996
auditor's race, faces former Wake County commissioner Les Merritt and
Johnnie C. Mayfield of Wendell in the GOP primary.

Pendley said he had no qualms about encouraging Kenneth Campbell to run.
Voters, not party elites, should decide who is qualified to be state
auditor, he said.

"If what I have done causes Mr. (Ralph) Campbell to have a more
difficult job to become his party's nominee, ain't that a shame,"
Pendley said. "When this gentleman fell into my lap with a last name of
Campbell, I took it as a sign of God that this man should become more
politically active."

Pendley said he met Kenneth Campbell while working on a disability claim
for him, but didn't know the High Point man that well.

The High Point Enterprise reported Thursday that Campbell was most
recently living at a Lexington homeless shelter, even though he listed
the address of his brother on election filing papers.

A shelter employee told the newspaper that police brought Campbell to
the shelter after recently finding him under a bridge.

Court records show Campbell has a long history of mostly misdemeanor
criminal offenses stretching back to 1969. In 1982, he was sentenced to
at least 18 months in prison on a charge of assault with a deadly
weapon.

The revelations about Kenneth Campbell's background brought a negative
reaction Thursday from a state Republican Party official, who indicated
the GOP already is unimpressed with Daly.

"I think what Daly has done is a mockery of the system. If these types
of revelations continue, he's going to turn into more of an
embarrassment than he already is," said Dan Gurley, political director
of state Republican Party.

Daly called Gurley's remarks "ignorant."

He defended his actions and those of Pendley by saying they helped
provide voters with more choices.

"My position is that the public is well-served by more choices, not
fewer," he said.

Meanwhile, election officials were closely looking at the unusual
filing, Kenneth Campbell's residency and his criminal record.

Gary Bartlett, executive director of the state Board of Elections, said
a felony conviction could disqualify him unless his voting rights have
already been restored. Election officials were unsure of Campbell's
status Thursday.

George Gilbert, elections director in Guilford County, said he is
looking into the residency issue, which he admitted is complicated by
Kenneth Campbell's apparent homelessness.

Sources familiar with the case said election officials also are trying
to determine whether the signatures on election documents are Kenneth
Campbell's and if a criminal investigation of that issue is needed.

Bartlett, however, said Pendley clearly did nothing illegal by
soliciting a man with the same last name as Ralph Campbell to run
against him.

"The issues it brings up do need to be debated in the political forum,
but that could raise 1st Amendment Constitutional issues," Bartlett
said. "So basically what you've got is more of a political issue and
ethics issue."

Copyright © 1999 Nando Media


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