Thomas E. Wright
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Wright was a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
who represented the state's eighteenth district, including constituents in New Hanover
and Pender
counties, from 1992 to 2008. An EMS instructor from Wilmington, North Carolina
, Wright was serving his eighth term in the House when he was expelled from that chamber in 2008. A jury subsequently convicted him of corruption and embezzlement, sending him to jail for a 6-8 year term.
In 2007, the North Carolina State Board of Elections launched an investigation of Wright's campaign finances. The board recommended that Wright be prosecuted, and information revealed in the board's hearings led to calls for Wright to resign. http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/574674.html http://wunc.org/news/Isaac-Hunters-Tavern/tuesday-late-edition-wright-out
Wright was indicted by a Wake County grand jury "on five charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and one charge of obstruction of justice" on December 10, 2007. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/wright_indicted_on_five_counts
A House committee found probable cause to proceed on eight counts of misconduct in 2008. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/probable_cause_on_eight_counts_for_wright Acting on that committee's final recommendations, the full House voted 109-5 to expel Wright on March 20, 2008. He was the first member of the House expelled since Josiah Turner
in 1880. http://www.newsobserver.com/141/story/1006553.html
A few weeks later, a jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to 6–8 years imprisonment. Wright was on the primary ballot to get his seat back, but was removed from the ballot as a result of his conviction; the North Carolina Constitution
, like those of most other states, does not allow convicted felons to hold office. Wright plans to appeal, claiming that extensive media coverage prompted by his House colleagues' disciplinary action tainted the jury.
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
who represented the state's eighteenth district, including constituents in New Hanover
New Hanover County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...
and Pender
Pender County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,082 people, 16,054 households, and 11,719 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 20,798 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
counties, from 1992 to 2008. An EMS instructor from Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, Wright was serving his eighth term in the House when he was expelled from that chamber in 2008. A jury subsequently convicted him of corruption and embezzlement, sending him to jail for a 6-8 year term.
In 2007, the North Carolina State Board of Elections launched an investigation of Wright's campaign finances. The board recommended that Wright be prosecuted, and information revealed in the board's hearings led to calls for Wright to resign. http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/574674.html http://wunc.org/news/Isaac-Hunters-Tavern/tuesday-late-edition-wright-out
Wright was indicted by a Wake County grand jury "on five charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and one charge of obstruction of justice" on December 10, 2007. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/wright_indicted_on_five_counts
A House committee found probable cause to proceed on eight counts of misconduct in 2008. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/probable_cause_on_eight_counts_for_wright Acting on that committee's final recommendations, the full House voted 109-5 to expel Wright on March 20, 2008. He was the first member of the House expelled since Josiah Turner
Josiah Turner
Josiah Turner, Jr. was an American lawyer, politician and newspaper editor from North Carolina.Turner, one-time president of the North Carolina Railroad Company, was elected to represent Orange County in the North Carolina House of Representatives and in the North Carolina Senate .Turner was a...
in 1880. http://www.newsobserver.com/141/story/1006553.html
A few weeks later, a jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to 6–8 years imprisonment. Wright was on the primary ballot to get his seat back, but was removed from the ballot as a result of his conviction; the North Carolina Constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
, like those of most other states, does not allow convicted felons to hold office. Wright plans to appeal, claiming that extensive media coverage prompted by his House colleagues' disciplinary action tainted the jury.