Bob Hall 5706 Old Stony Way Durham, NC 27705 sprc@mindspring.com MEMORANDUM To: Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement Executive Director Kim Strach, Campaign for Accountability Executive Director Daniel Stevens, and other Interested Parties From: Bob Hall Date: January 16, 2019 Re: Campaign Contributions & Investigation of House Speaker Tim Moore Ronald M. Cameron of Little Rock, Arkansas, is the owner and chairman of Mountaire Corp., the nation’s seventh largest poultry company. The pattern of his political contributions provide additional context and raise new questions about Speaker Tim Moore’s actions related to the poultry plant property that Moore’s partnership sold to Mountaire. Cameron has been a prolific donor to Republican candidates and causes for many years. His company has had operations in North Carolina since it purchased the Piedmont Poultry processing plant in Lumber Bridge in 1996, but Cameron only started making substantial political donations in the state in 2014. From July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018, he contributed nearly $1 million to influence elections in North Carolina. Cameron contributed $500 to NC Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry in April 2003 and $4,000 to Pat McCrory’s successful gubernatorial campaign in October 2012. Those are his first donations recorded in the database of the State Board of Elections that extends back to 1989. Then in July and August 2014, Cameron made 11 donations of $2,000 to $5,000 to 11 Republican state legislative candidates in swing district contests, including then non-incumbents Mike Clampitt, Larry Yarborough, and Michael Lee, as well as two incumbents who lost in November 2014, Rep. Mike Stone and Rep. Tom Murry. Then in 2016, Cameron’s political donations in North Carolina escalated with at least 30 donations to Republican legislative leaders, Republican legislative incumbents in swing districts, Republican Council of State incumbents, Speaker Tim Moore’s House Caucus ($25,000), and the NC Republican Party ($125,000). He is also listed as donating $500,000 to the Koch-related Freedom Partners Action Fund, a Super PAC that disclosed using Cameron’s donation to finance a $506,000 attack ad campaign against Roy Cooper, the Democrat challenging incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory in 2016. In 2018, Cameron made at least 40 donations totaling $174,000 to NC Republican legislative leaders, Republican legislative candidates, the Republican House and Senate caucuses, and Republican Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jackson. (Some campaign disclosure reports are still being processed by the State Board of Elections, so Cameron’s total may increase). According to news reports: (1) House Speaker Tim Moore is one of the partners of Southeast Land Holdings LLC, which bought a shuttered Townsend/Omtron poultry plant in Siler City for $85,000 in November 2013. It reached a deal to sell the property to Mountaire Farms in May 2016 after removing two 1 underground storage tanks with gasoline and diesel fuel; the sale was finalized for $550,000 in September 2016. Curiously, in July 2013, Mountaire announced it was buying the Townsend/Omtron’s hatchery in Siler City shortly before Omtron’s remaining assets were sold at auction; it’s not clear how or why Southland Land Holdings LLC, which only began in August 2013, became owner of the poultry plant property and then decided to sell. See, for example, https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article223925075.html and https://www.wattagnet.com/articles/16498-mountaire-farms-to-acquire-former-townsendomtron-hatchery. (2) At the request of Speaker Moore and later intervention by one of his legislative staff members, Southeast Land Holdings received a number of extensions, penalty fine waivers, approval of a $22,414 state subsidy, and unusual waivers from the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), all related to cleaning up the underground storage tanks on the Siler City property. See https://campaignforaccountability.org/watchdog-again-calls-forinvestigation-of-house-speaker-tim-moore-for-seeking-preferential-treatment-from-state-agency (3) After Mountaire agreed to buy the property, it received “fast” track approval for a beneficial Brownfields Program designation because “legislative inquiries” were made to DEQ, despite concerns by a DEQ hydrogeologist about the lack of proper tests to evaluate pollution threats remaining after the underground tanks had been removed. See email from Clark Wipfield at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8ZHU20vWyHbcWNVdVItQVdwSWZuU2UzNVg1dmZYR mlwYmJF/view These facts and the pattern of Ronald Cameron political donations in North Carolina raise serious questions:  Did Cameron’s substantial political donations influence the “legislative inquiries” which resulted in the fast track acceptance of Mountaire’s property into the Brownfields Program? Who made those inquiries and was that action ethical or possibly an illegal quid pro quo? It’s worth noting that the date of Mountaire’s purchase of Southeast Land Holdings’ property is September 22, 2016. A few weeks later, on October 21, 2016, Speaker Moore’s House Republican caucus account at the NC Republican Party received a donation of $25,000 from Ronald Cameron.  Who advised Cameron about which legislative candidates to support in 2014 and thereafter? It’s not unusual for an out-of-state donor to contribute to top legislative leaders; but that’s not what Cameron did in 2014. He donated to the most vulnerable Republican legislators and to Republican candidates in swing legislative districts. It’s not reasonable to believe Cameron could target these legislative candidates for his 2014 donations without assistance. When and how did his relationship with Rep. Tim Moore and Sen. Phil Berger and other NC politicians develop?  Did Mountaire’s $550,000 payment for the property that Speaker Tim Moore’s partnership bought three years earlier for $85,000 include a bonus or possible illegal gift that directly or indirectly benefitted Speaker Moore?  Was the intervention by Speaker Moore and his staffer Mitch Gillespie in DEQ decisions designed not only to benefit Southeast Land Holdings LLC but also to benefit Speaker Moore’s relationship with Ron Cameron who was becoming a major political donor for NC Republicans? Was a person’s public office illegally used to influence governmental actions for personal gain? Below is a list of Cameron’s contributions as reported by the recipients to the State Board of Elections and available through its searchable database at: https://cf.ncsbe.gov/CFTxnLkup/. 2 DONOR DONOR CITY COMMITTEE/CANDIDATE CANDIDATE CITY Ronald Cameron N Little Rock BERRY FOR COMMN OF LABOR RALEIGH 4/14/2003 500.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock PAT MCCRORY COMM CHARLOTTE 10/3/2012 4,000.00 RONALD M. CAMERON LITTLE ROCK CITIZENS FOR SUSAN MARTIN WILSON 7/15/2014 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT MIKE STONE SANFORD 7/15/2014 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MIKE 4 HOUSE (J M CLAMPITT) BRYSON CITY 7/15/2014 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT BILL COOK CHOCOWINITY 7/15/2014 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BRIAN BROWN FOR HOUSE GREENVILLE 7/15/2014 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LEVINSON COMM CHARLOTTE 7/15/2014 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK JONATHAN JORDAN COMM JEFFERSON 7/18/2014 2,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LARRY YARBOROUGH COMM ROXBORO 7/21/2014 2,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT MICHAEL LEE WILMINGTON 7/23/2014 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK WESLEY MEREDITH FOR SENATE FAYETTEVILLE 7/25/2014 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK THOMAS O MURRY COMM MORRISVILLE 8/7/2014 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT CHAD BAREFOOT WAKE FOREST 8/18/2014 5,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock PAT MCCRORY COMM CHARLOTTE 12/30/2014 5,000.00 Nina Cameron Little Rock PAT MCCRORY COMM CHARLOTTE 6/23/2015 5,100.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock NC REPUBLICAN PARTY RALEIGH 11/12/2015 10,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK JOHN SZOKA FOR NC HOUSE FAYETTEVILLE 1/18/2016 1,250.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MCINNIS FOR STATE SENATE ROCKINGHAM 1/18/2016 1,250.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK FOLWELL COMM WINSTON SALEM 1/18/2016 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK STEVE TROXLER AG COMMN GREENSBORO 1/18/2016 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK CHOCOWINITY 1/18/2016 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BURNSVILLE 1/18/2016 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT BILL COOK COMM TO ELECT MICHELE PRESNELL COMM TO ELECT CHAD BAREFOOT WAKE FOREST 1/18/2016 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK CITIZENS FOR SUSAN MARTIN WILSON 1/22/2016 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK JONATHAN JORDAN COMM JEFFERSON 1/25/2016 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK JUSTIN BURR FOR NC HOUSE Albemarle 1/25/2016 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK CAMPAIGN TO ELECT MIKE HAGER RUTHERFORDTON 1/28/2016 1,250.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK PHILIP E BERGER COMM EDEN 1/29/2016 1,250.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK NC POULTRY FED INC PAC RALEIGH 1/31/2016 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MILLIS FOR NC HOUSE HAMPSTEAD 2/3/2016 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BERRY FOR COMMN OF LABOR RALEIGH 2/11/2016 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK WILSON 4/6/2016 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BURNSVILLE 4/6/2016 2,500.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock CITIZENS FOR SUSAN MARTIN COMM TO ELECT MICHELE PRESNELL PAT MCCRORY COMM CHARLOTTE 4/6/2016 5,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock CITIZENS FOR BUCK NEWTON WILSON 4/6/2016 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT CHAD BAREFOOT WAKE FOREST 4/6/2016 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MILLIS FOR NC HOUSE HAMPSTEAD 4/8/2016 2,500.00 RONALD M. CAMERON LITTLE ROCK JUSTIN BURR FOR NC HOUSE Albemarle 4/11/2016 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK FOLWELL COMM WINSTON SALEM 4/12/2016 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT DAN FOREST CHARLOTTE 4/12/2016 2,500.00 3 DATE AMOUNT $ DONOR DONOR CITY COMMITTEE/CANDIDATE CANDIDATE CITY RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT BILL COOK CHOCOWINITY 4/13/2016 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BERRY FOR COMMN OF LABOR RALEIGH 4/15/2016 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MCINNIS FOR STATE SENATE ROCKINGHAM 4/19/2016 2,402.20 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT DAN FOREST CHARLOTTE 4/29/2016 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK STEVE TROXLER AG COMMN GREENSBORO 5/11/2016 5,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock NC REPUBLICAN PARTY RALEIGH 6/1/2016 15,000.00 Nina Cameron Little Rock PAT MCCRORY COMM CHARLOTTE 6/1/2016 5,100.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock RALEIGH 9/19/2016 100,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock RALEIGH 10/21/2016 25,000.00 RONALD M. CAMERON LITTLE ROCK ARLINGTON 10/31/2016 500,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RALEIGH 12/31/2017 5,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock RALEIGH 3/16/2018 25,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock NC REPUBLICAN PARTY NC REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS NC GOP FREEDOM PARTNERS ACTION FUND NC POULTRY FED INC PAC NC REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS NC GOP NC REPUBLICAN PARTY RALEIGH 3/20/2018 15,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LARRY C STRICKLAND COMM PINE LEVEL 3/20/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BRENT JACKSON FOR NC SENATE AUTRYVILLE 3/20/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK KYLE HALL COMMITTEE KING 3/30/2018 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK HOLLO FOR NC SENATE CONOVER 4/13/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MALONE FOR NC HOUSE WAKE FOREST 4/18/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK BILL BRAWLEY COMM MATTHEWS 4/18/2018 5,000.00 RICK HORNER FOR NC SENATE WILSON 4/20/2018 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON DATE AMOUNT $ RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LOUIS PATE ELECTION COMM MOUNT OLIVE 4/21/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT SCOTT STONE CHARLOTTE 4/21/2018 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK FRIENDS OF TRUDY WADE GREENSBORO 4/21/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK WILLIAM BRISSON COMM DUBLIN 4/21/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT JEFF TARTE CORNELIUS 4/24/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M. CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RE-ELECT JUSTICE JACKSON COMM RALEIGH 4/25/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK ALEXANDER FOR NC SENATE RALEIGH 4/25/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK FRIENDS OF TRUDY WADE GREENSBORO 6/19/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MALONE FOR NC HOUSE WAKE FOREST 6/19/2018 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT JEFF TARTE CORNELIUS 6/26/2018 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT MICHAEL LEE WILMINGTON 6/27/2018 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LOUIS PATE ELECTION COMM MOUNT OLIVE 7/2/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LOUIS PATE ELECTION COMM MOUNT OLIVE 7/2/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK MOUNT OLIVE 7/2/2018 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RALEIGH 7/2/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK LOUIS PATE ELECTION COMM (JOHN) ALEXANDER FOR NC SENATE JONATHAN JORDAN COMM JEFFERSON 9/13/2018 2,500.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK COMM TO ELECT SCOTT STONE CHARLOTTE 9/13/2018 2,500.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK VOTE ANDY DULIN CHARLOTTE 9/13/2018 1,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK THE JOHN R BRADFORD III COMM CORNELIUS 9/13/2018 2,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK SAULS FOR NC HOUSE SANFORD 9/13/2018 2,500.00 4 DONOR DONOR CITY CANDIDATE CITY LITTLE ROCK COMMITTEE/CANDIDATE COMM TO ELECT DONNY LAMBETH LISA STONE BARNES FOR NC HOUSE BILL BRAWLEY COMM RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RONALD CAMERON RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RONALD M CAMERON DATE AMOUNT $ WINSTON-SALEM 9/13/2018 2,500.00 SPRING HOPE 9/13/2018 2,500.00 MATTHEWS 9/13/2018 2,500.00 NC SENATE MAJORITY FUND RALEIGH 9/17/2018 10,000.00 DAVIS FOR NC HOUSE WILMINGTON 9/27/2018 1,000.00 LITTLE ROCK LOUIS PATE ELECTION COMM MOUNT OLIVE 10/17/2018 (2,400.00) Ronald M Cameron Little Rock EDEN 10/19/2018 5,000.00 Ronald Cameron Little Rock RALEIGH 10/19/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK PHILIP E BERGER COMM NC REPUBICAN SENATE CAUCUS NC GOP BRENT JACKSON FOR NC SENATE AUTRYVILLE 10/19/2018 5,000.00 RONALD CAMERON LITTLE ROCK KATHY HARRINGTON COMM GASTONIA 10/19/2018 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK HARRY BROWN FOR NC SENATE JACKSONVILLE 10/24/2018 5,000.00 RONALD M CAMERON LITTLE ROCK RABON FOR SENATE SOUTHPORT 10/25/2018 5,000.00 TOTAL 985,202.20 5