Jim Black: Dodging Hand Grenades
In an odd sort of way it’s a tribute to House Speaker Jim Black that after the Video Poker scandal, the Optometrists scandal, the Lottery scandal and Representative Mike Decker’s bribery conviction, he has survived. But, in fact, the Speaker has more than survived. He has retained power without a single serious challenge.
Kevin Geddings said at his trial that he “disclosed his ties to Scientific Games to Black” the night before he was appointed. But Black insists that’s not so and House Democrats have continued to support him overwhelmingly, though, at last, some Democrats seem to be wondering how much longer Black can go on dodging hand grenades.
After Geddings’ conviction, former Speaker Joe Mavretic told the Charlotte Observer (10-13-06), “The oven’s getting hotter.” And Former Democratic legislator Bob Hensley added he thought former-Representative Michael Decker’s sentencing (for taking a $50,000 bribe) could also “lead to trouble for the Speaker.”
It seems more than possible, given the national trends, Democrats may retain control of the State House. But if they do, will they re-elect Jim Black Speaker? Black is an adroit master of the inside politics of the legislature. He has emerged victorious on dozens of hard-fought issues. But will he be able to pull the hat trick again? Or will he survive the election, and, maybe, the prosecutors – only to lose the support of his own caucus?
Jim Black: Dodging Hand Grenades
In an odd sort of way it’s a tribute to House Speaker Jim Black that after the Video Poker scandal, the Optometrists scandal, the Lottery scandal and Representative Mike Decker’s bribery conviction, he has survived. But, in fact, the Speaker has more than survived. He has retained power without a single serious challenge.
Kevin Geddings said at his trial that he “disclosed his ties to Scientific Games to Black” the night before he was appointed. But Black insists that’s not so and House Democrats have continued to support him overwhelmingly, though, at last, some Democrats seem to be wondering how much longer Black can go on dodging hand grenades.
After Geddings’ conviction, former Speaker Joe Mavretic told the Charlotte Observer (10-13-06), “The oven’s getting hotter.” And Former Democratic legislator Bob Hensley added he thought former-Representative Michael Decker’s sentencing (for taking a $50,000 bribe) could also “lead to trouble for the Speaker.”
It seems more than possible, given the national trends, Democrats may retain control of the State House. But if they do, will they re-elect Jim Black Speaker? Black is an adroit master of the inside politics of the legislature. He has emerged victorious on dozens of hard-fought issues. But will he be able to pull the hat trick again? Or will he survive the election, and, maybe, the prosecutors – only to lose the support of his own caucus?