Staff report
The N.C Republican Party has filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission against state Sen. Janet Cowell, a Democrat running for state treasurer.
The complaint alleges Cowell improperly used her public office for private gain in violation of the State Government Ethics Act.
The Raleigh News and Observer reported Friday that Cowell instructed members of her Senate office staff to contact a Dell lobbyist to help repair or replace a campaign worker’s laptop computer.
The charge was brought by a former Cowell Senate staffer.
Bill Daughtridge is the GOP candidate for N.C. treasurer.
“This appears to be another example of the culture of arrogance and corruption in state government that Bill Daughtridge and I want to change,” Republican nominee for governor Pat McCrory said over the weekend.
Cowell has said the campaign worker was a N.C. resident whom she was trying to help.
“This is another of those fine lines,” Cowell told the Raleigh newspaper. “This was someone who had trouble with a laptop, and I knew someone who might be able to help, and the (phone) number resided on a database in the office.”
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Republican U.S. Sen.. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan have full schedules today, the final day before Tuesday’s election.
Hagan will spend her time in eastern North Carolina, including Wilmington, New Bern and Goldsboro.
Chip Hagan, her husband, will make appearances in Tarboro and Halifax.
Dole will have a “fly-around day” taking her to Charlotte, Asheville, Greensboro, Morrisville, Greenville and Wilmington.
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Dole, a Salisbury native whose N.C. residence is on South Fulton Street, will vote at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Rowan Public Library, on West Fisher Street, which is the West Ward I precinct.
The public is invited to a Dole “Victory Rally” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Salisbury Station, 215 Depot St. The event is free, as supporters await Tuesday’s election results.
Dole and her husband, former U.S. Sen. and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, are expected to be on hand.