DELLINGER IN THE NEWS
THE SOURCE | Politics & public life in the Carolinas, Charlotte Observer (3/8/08)
AFL-CIO:
Take your pick, voters
The N.C. AFL-CIO chose not to endorse in the governor's race Friday. The group, which typically backs Democrats, did not express a preference between Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and State Treasurer Richard Moore, both Democrats."Our people feel either one of these candidates would serve us well," said James Andrews, the group's president. The AFL-CIO did endorse for the state's No. 2 job, backing Hampton Dellinger, former legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley, for lieutenant governor. -- mark johnson
Famous horn, famous mouthpiece, Charlotte Observer (7/9/07)
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis and Raleigh lawyer Wade Smith, the courtly dean of the state's criminal defense bar, are teaming up to boost the campaign of Hampton Dellinger, who is vying for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Marsalis will speak and perform, and Smith will speak, though he did take up the violin four years ago at age 65. The fundraiser will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Hopper Piano and Organ in Raleigh.
Marsalis is the second member of his family to perform on behalf of a N.C. candidate this month. His brother Wynton headlined a Charlotte fundraiser this week for City Council member Anthony Foxx. -- Mark Johnson
Raleigh News & Observer (7/19/07)
Hampton Dellinger, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, had a jazzy fundraiser over the weekend featuring saxophonist Branford Marsalis.
The event drew 145 people at Hopper's Piano Showroom in Raleigh. Among those who spoke at the event was Raleigh attorney Wade Smith, a former state Democratic Party chairman, Rob Christensen reports.
Others attending included Durham Mayor Bill Bell, Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller, and state Reps. Larry Hall, Ty Harrell and Deborah Ross. The event ended a a kick off fundraising swing for Dellinger, a Raleigh attorney and former legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley.
Raleigh News & Observer (1/29/07)
There rarely has been a fundraiser with more literary connections than the one held Saturday by Hampton Dellinger, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
The event at Chapel Hill's Franklin Hotel was to feature talks by Frances Mayes, author of "Under the Tuscan Sun," and Duke University historian John Hope Franklin.
Dellinger, a former chief legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley, has begun a series of fundraisers around the state. He held an event at Winston-Salem's Piedmont Club on Jan. 9 and another reception at the home of Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess on Jan. 18.
Raleigh News & Observer (1/27/07)
Frances Mayes, author of "Under the Tuscan Sun," and Duke historian John Hope Franklin will headline a fundraising reception tonight for Hampton Dellinger, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Franklin and Mayes are "North Carolinians of worldwide renown, and I am grateful for their support," said Dellinger, former chief legal counsel for Gov. Mike Easley and a deputy attorney general.
Dellinger's father, constitutional scholar Walter Dellinger, will also speak.
Charlotte Observer (12/08/2006) [click here for full article]
N.C. halts contract after firm complains
Charlotte company had low bid, but state chose competitor's offer -- at $1 million more
RALEIGH - N.C. Highway Patrol and state technology officials have canceled a $1.6 million contract for radio recording services after a Charlotte company that bid about $1 million less questioned why its bid was rejected.
State officials may re-bid the contract, which was awarded to Motorola, but the losing bidder, Carolina Recording Services, said it should get the job. The Charlotte company is taking legal steps to secure it.
The state's office of administrative hearings has been asked to appoint an administrative law judge to hear the case. No date has been set.
"Two companies bid for the contract," said Hampton Dellinger, a Raleigh lawyer for Carolina Recording Systems. "Carolina Recording Systems offered recording devices as good or better than Motorola's for $1 million less. It should be case closed. Game over. Further prolonging the bid award process for a device that is critical to public safety makes no sense."
Independent Weekly (12/06/06)
"If he winds up presiding over the Senate, he'll start with at least one longtime legislative connection. His first campaign stint was in grade school leafleting for Gerry Cohen -- now director of bill drafting at the General Assembly -- during Cohen's career on the Chapel Hill Town Council in the mid-1970s. Dellinger and his buddies did a lot of two-wheeling downtown and liked Cohen's plans for bike paths." -- Kirk Ross, Independent Weekly (12/06/06)
Charlotte Observer (11/09/2006)
"Hampton Dellinger, a former top lawyer in the governor's office and attorney general's office, announced his plans to run for lieutenant governor this week using the results from this year's election to launch the next one.
Dellinger, a Democrat, ran advertisements on news media Web sites immediately after polls closed Tuesday. "After being deluged with so many superficial and negative ads recently," Dellinger said, "I think voters will welcome the positive and detailed information" at his site, www.HDforLtGov.com.
His top campaign priorities include: raising the compulsory school age to 17, relieving counties of their share of Medicaid payments and increasing the use of advanced technology in law enforcement.
NC SPIN's weekly SPINCycle (11/09/2006)
"One interesting note [to the '06 elections] was that anyone visiting major web sites seeking election returns (and we found that to be a primary source of up-to-date information) also saw a big banner ad for Hampton Dellinger, former Deputy AG and Easley legal counsel, announcing his campaign for Lieutenant Governor in '08. Good strategy."
Chapel Hill Herald (10/14/06)
"Hampton Dellinger, who has held a variety of top governmental posts, is likely to earn the support of much of the traditional party establishment but is also well respected among the progressive wing of the party." -- Tom Jensen, Chapel Hill Herald (10/14/06)
NC SPIN's weekly SPINCycle (9/21/2006)
"Dellinger decides: One name that has been mentioned for statewide office is that of Hampton Dellinger, longtime Deputy Attorney General and Legal Counsel to Governor Easley. Hampton sent out a letter this week to 1,500 Democrats across the state telling them he is thinking seriously about running for Lieutenant Governor and asking their feedback. We heard from one highly placed leader that he is picking up support for the post from substantial Democrats across the state."
Raleigh News & Observer (9/25/2006)
"Hampton Dellinger, a long-time aide to Gov. Mike Easley, is exploring a bid for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2008. Dellinger, a Raleigh lawyer, recently sent a letter to Democrats expressing his interesting in the post. Dellinger wrote about some of his ideas, including raising the compulsory school age to 17 or beyond..."
Excerpt from The Charlotte Observer, 4/21/2006
Bid saving N.C. millions rejected
Firm that helped form system used in awarding contract had close ties to eventual winner Office Depot
North Carolina rejected the best offer it received for office supplies and now will pay as much as $10.8 million more for essentials such as paper clips and memo pads over the next six years.
State contracting officials asked for bids from office supply companies last year to provide thousands of staplers, ink cartridges and other supplies to state agencies. The officials rejected the lowest bid, from Corporate Express, according to documents the company filed in a lawsuit scheduled for trial next week in Raleigh.
Lawyers for Colorado-based Corporate Express cry foul because the state's consulting firm on the contract had received millions of dollars from Office Depot, the company that won the bid. The state also used a brand new point-scoring system for deciding the bid winner. The legal duel between two office supply titans provides a rare inside glimpse at how the state spends millions of tax dollars.
State officials signed an $18.2 million-a-year deal with Florida-based Office Depot, even though giving Corporate Express part of the contract would have saved as much as $10.8 million over six years, according to the court documents.
"It just does not make sense to waste taxpayers' money in this way," said Hampton Dellinger, a lawyer representing Corporate Express and formerly a state deputy attorney general and legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley....The lawsuit also underscores that the consulting firm, Accenture, which helped North Carolina solicit bids for the contract and structure the selection process, has a longstanding business relationship with Office Depot. Accenture didn't disclose that Office Depot is one of its clients, a potential conflict of interest, while Accenture was helping the state solicit the bids. Since 2003, Office Depot has paid $30 million to Accenture on projects such as new software to manage inventory and to overhaul the company's merchandising system.
Excerpt from the Raleigh News & Observer, 4/29/2006 [click here for full article]
Ruling: State bungled bidding
Office supply deal unfair, judge says
The state mishandled the seemingly easy task of buying paper clips, pencils and other supplies, a judge ruled Friday.
After four days of testimony, including a focus on ethics in government, Administrative Law Judge Beecher "Gus" Gray said the state's handling of its office supplies contract appeared unethical and was unfair.
The state, Gray said, "should get the taxpayers the best deal it can," but didn't do that in this case.... Hampton Dellinger, a former state deputy attorney general who represented Corporate Express, called the judgment a victory for state taxpayers and for government ethics.
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