Michael P. Decker
Encyclopedia
Michael Paul Decker, Sr. is a former member of the North Carolina General Assembly
representing the state's ninety-fourth House district, including constituents in Forsyth County
. A former teacher from Walkertown, North Carolina
, Decker served 10 terms in the state House, ending with the 2003-2004 session.
, switched from the Republican Party
to the Democratic Party
. http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2003/01/20/daily57.html This led to a 60-60 split in the House, producing a power-sharing arrangement between the two parties. Prior to his switch, the Republicans had a 61-59 majority, and therefore were set to control the state House. Shortly before the 2004 elections, Decker switched back to the Republican Party. He was defeated in the 2004 Republican Primary by Larry R. Brown
of Kernersville
who was elected in the general election.
In August 2006, Decker pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving $50,000 in cash and checks as well as a legislative job for his son, all in exchange for supporting Democrat Jim Black
for the Speaker of the House position (although Black is not mentioned by name in Decker's federal plea deal). The bribe was made in the form of an envelope containing $38,000 in blank checks from Black's fellow North Carolina optometrists, plus $12,000 in cash from an undisclosed source. The envelope was transferred to Decker by a Democratic member of the House, at a Salisbury, North Carolina
, IHOP restaurant. Black's office has said that at some point in 2002, Decker met Jim Black at the International House of Pancakes in Salisbury to talk. http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-758871.html Black maintained that the $50,000 was campaign funding support from the House Leader to a new Democratic Party member. Decker maintained it was a bribe for him to switch parties so that Black could remain Speaker of the House. http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/545472.html In 2007, Black pleaded guilty (but did not actually admit guilt) to essentially what Decker alleged.
On April 27, 2007, Decker was sentenced to four years in prison and a $50,000 fine for his involvement in the scheme. The sentence was twice what the prosecution was seeking. U.S. District Court Judge James Dever called the scheme "an epic betrayal." He reported to a federal prison in South Carolina in September 2007. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/jimblack/story/691663.html
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
representing the state's ninety-fourth House district, including constituents in Forsyth County
Forsyth County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
. A former teacher from Walkertown, North Carolina
Walkertown, North Carolina
Walkertown is a town in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Piedmont Triad. The population was 4,009 at the 2000 census.It is named after an early resident.-Geography:Walkertown is located at ....
, Decker served 10 terms in the state House, ending with the 2003-2004 session.
Bribery scandal
Just before the opening of the 2003–2004 legislative session, Decker, an outspoken conservativeAmerican conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
, switched from the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2003/01/20/daily57.html This led to a 60-60 split in the House, producing a power-sharing arrangement between the two parties. Prior to his switch, the Republicans had a 61-59 majority, and therefore were set to control the state House. Shortly before the 2004 elections, Decker switched back to the Republican Party. He was defeated in the 2004 Republican Primary by Larry R. Brown
Larry R. Brown
Larry R. Brown is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He won the Republican Primary in 2004 against Michael P. Decker, who had spent most of the last term as a Democrat although he had been elected earlier as a Republican.Brown was in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1968...
of Kernersville
Kernersville, North Carolina
Kernersville is a town in Forsyth County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 17,126 at the 2000 census. In 2007 the U.S. Census estimated the town's population at 22,309. Kernersville is located at the heart of the Piedmont Triad metropolitan area, which consists of the cities...
who was elected in the general election.
In August 2006, Decker pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving $50,000 in cash and checks as well as a legislative job for his son, all in exchange for supporting Democrat Jim Black
James B. Black
Dr. James "Jim" Boyce Black is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's 100th House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County...
for the Speaker of the House position (although Black is not mentioned by name in Decker's federal plea deal). The bribe was made in the form of an envelope containing $38,000 in blank checks from Black's fellow North Carolina optometrists, plus $12,000 in cash from an undisclosed source. The envelope was transferred to Decker by a Democratic member of the House, at a Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
, IHOP restaurant. Black's office has said that at some point in 2002, Decker met Jim Black at the International House of Pancakes in Salisbury to talk. http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-758871.html Black maintained that the $50,000 was campaign funding support from the House Leader to a new Democratic Party member. Decker maintained it was a bribe for him to switch parties so that Black could remain Speaker of the House. http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/545472.html In 2007, Black pleaded guilty (but did not actually admit guilt) to essentially what Decker alleged.
On April 27, 2007, Decker was sentenced to four years in prison and a $50,000 fine for his involvement in the scheme. The sentence was twice what the prosecution was seeking. U.S. District Court Judge James Dever called the scheme "an epic betrayal." He reported to a federal prison in South Carolina in September 2007. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/jimblack/story/691663.html