Charlotte vs. Raleigh: Crime Funds

One of the duties of the Governor of North Carolina is to appoint the largest share of the members of the Governor's Crime Commission. This 44 member board decides on the distribution of most all federal crime monies sent to the state.

Of the 44 members currently on the board, Charlotte has three members. Raleigh has 18, and this doesn't count the member from Cary.

Why does the largest city in the state only have three members? Why does Raleigh have 18?
Did I mention the chairman is from New Bern?

Our office has brought this disparity to the attention of the Governor, and we thank her for her recent (unpublicized) appointment of Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe and County Commission Chairwoman Roberts. We are grateful for this step in the right direction.

However, since the board is responsible for the distribution of millions of dollars of federal money for crime fighting initiatives, I think the board should be more representative of the realities of the crime situation in the state.

Did you know Greensboro does not even have a member on the commission? The hot bed of crime, Swan Quarter, NC has a member, but Greensboro does not. Hillsborough has two members to handle their crime explosion (LOL), which up until a couple of weeks ago was more representation than Charlotte.

Perhaps the Governor didn't watch the recent nationally televised series on the History Channel about Charlotte's gang problems ("Gangland" episode about the Hidden Valley Kings killings).

But I'm not worried, I know those members from New Bern, Swan Quarter, Rocky Mount and places East are going to take good care of us here in Charlotte. They understand our needs and concerns much more than we do here in the Queen City.

Below is a listing of the Governor's Crime Commission Members:

Dr. June Atkinson
Raleigh

Ms. Robin Baker
Raleigh

Judge Joseph M. Buckner
Hillsborough

Sheriff Stephen "Steve" W. Bunn
Elizabethtown

Secretary Lanier M. Cansler
Raleigh

Mr. Seth W. Chapman
Taylorsville

Judge J. C. Cole
Hertford

Attorney General Roy Cooper
Raleigh

Chief Harry Dolan
Raleigh

Mayor James K. Festerman
Reidsville

Judge Carl R. Fox
Hillsborough

Ms. Carrah B. Franke
Cary

Dr. Catherine M. Fuentes
Charlotte

Representative R. Phillip Haire
Raleigh

Secretary Linda W. Hayes
Dunn

Sheriff Worth L. Hill
Durham

Ms. Jean R. Irvin
Winston-Salem

Dr. Robert "Robin" H. Jenkins
Fayetteville

Mr. David E. Jones
Raleigh

Senator Edward "Ed" Jones
Raleigh

Secretary Alvin Keller, Jr.
Raleigh

Sheriff James L. Knight
Tarboro

Mr. Robert Lewis
Raleigh

Ms. Rita Anita Linger
Durham

Chief Rodney Monroe
Charlotte

Mr. Tim Moose
Raleigh

Chief Thomas M. Moss
Garner

Chief Justice Sarah E. Parker
Raleigh

Ms. Robin P. Pendergraft
Raleigh

Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue
Raleigh

Mr. James W. Pierce, Jr.
Wilmington

Ms. Sandra Lynn Reid
Elon

Ms. Jennifer Roberts
Charlotte

Ms. Sharon Sadler
Swan Quarter

Captain J. Wayne Sears
Rocky Mount

Mr. Richard L. Shaffer
Shelby

Det. Crystal Lynn Sharpe
Graham

Judge John W. Smith
Raleigh

Senator John J. Snow
Raleigh

Mr. William H. Stanley
Asheville

Ms. Charlaine Sybrant
Boone

Chair, GCC
Mr. Scott Thomas
New Bern

Judge Albert S. Thomas, Jr.
Wilson

Representative Michael H. Wray
Raleigh

Secretary Reuben F. Young
Raleigh