Full announcement from Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell below:
Corruption in the Asheville ABC Commission
The Chief Counsel to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has handed the Asheville City Council information concerning alleged misconduct by the Asheville ABC Board and Curtis Canty, General Manager of the Asheville ABC Board. The report approaches 120 pages in length. Below I have listed some specific high points of the report.
In light of the information provided to Council, I am herewith calling for the firing of Curtis Canty and the immediate resignation of all Asheville ABC Board members. The information in the NCABCC report makes it quite clear that the current Board is either incompetent or complicit in ongoing corruption.
Here's a brief overview of the extremely well-documented charges:
1. Based on testimony from representatives of numerous liquor distributors, Canty solicited and accepted gifts of significant value from distributors. Such gifts included substantial quantities of liquor, NFL game tickets, meals, entertainment, golf clubs, and other gifts. (Gifts of any sort from liquor distributors to ABC management have been prohibited since at least 1996.)
2. Testimony from employees of the Asheville ABC Board indicate that both Canty and Board members were direct recipients of liquor from distributors.
3. Accounting records indicate that Canty and others in the employ of the Asheville ABC Board made free use of their ABC credit card accounts, including lodging, food and personal items, evidently unrelated to Board business.
4. The Asheville ABC Board provided automobiles to Canty and other employees which were used for personal purposes as well as public business. All maintenance, totalling more than $4,000, on said vehicles was done by Jan Davis Tires, while Council member Jan Davis was Council liaison to the ABC Board. The appearance of impropriety is unfortunate, but clear.
5. In total, the ABC Commission investigation charges both the Board and Canty with 59 counts of receiving undue favors, 59 counts of receiving undue compensation from distillers' representatives, selling liquor in excess of distribution permits, and other violations.
It is my view that those responsible, or those whose appointed positions required oversight, must be held accountable for corruption in our ABC system. All members of the ABC board must resign immediately, and a new City Council liaison must be appointed to monitor Board matters.
Corruption in the Asheville ABC Commission
The Chief Counsel to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has handed the Asheville City Council information concerning alleged misconduct by the Asheville ABC Board and Curtis Canty, General Manager of the Asheville ABC Board. The report approaches 120 pages in length. Below I have listed some specific high points of the report.
In light of the information provided to Council, I am herewith calling for the firing of Curtis Canty and the immediate resignation of all Asheville ABC Board members. The information in the NCABCC report makes it quite clear that the current Board is either incompetent or complicit in ongoing corruption.
Here's a brief overview of the extremely well-documented charges:
1. Based on testimony from representatives of numerous liquor distributors, Canty solicited and accepted gifts of significant value from distributors. Such gifts included substantial quantities of liquor, NFL game tickets, meals, entertainment, golf clubs, and other gifts. (Gifts of any sort from liquor distributors to ABC management have been prohibited since at least 1996.)
2. Testimony from employees of the Asheville ABC Board indicate that both Canty and Board members were direct recipients of liquor from distributors.
3. Accounting records indicate that Canty and others in the employ of the Asheville ABC Board made free use of their ABC credit card accounts, including lodging, food and personal items, evidently unrelated to Board business.
4. The Asheville ABC Board provided automobiles to Canty and other employees which were used for personal purposes as well as public business. All maintenance, totalling more than $4,000, on said vehicles was done by Jan Davis Tires, while Council member Jan Davis was Council liaison to the ABC Board. The appearance of impropriety is unfortunate, but clear.
5. In total, the ABC Commission investigation charges both the Board and Canty with 59 counts of receiving undue favors, 59 counts of receiving undue compensation from distillers' representatives, selling liquor in excess of distribution permits, and other violations.
It is my view that those responsible, or those whose appointed positions required oversight, must be held accountable for corruption in our ABC system. All members of the ABC board must resign immediately, and a new City Council liaison must be appointed to monitor Board matters.
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Guilty until proven innocent, eh Cecil?
By The Trolls Troll
09/24/2011
ALL boards and commissions in this County need a thorough examination. Many are either complicit or incompetent so the problem is rampant.
Thank You Mr. Bothwell for coming forward with this suggestion/demand. It is long overdue.
By D. Dial
09/24/2011
Perhaps it is time to get rid of these ridiculous state and county run hard liquor stores and commissions and turn it over to private retailers like most normal states.
By Christopher C NC
09/25/2011
It is past time for the whole NC ABC state run liquor bidness to be privitized which will bring retail prices down by probably 25%! Buy your SKYY vodka for 19.97 instead of 26.95!
By Unaffiliated Voter
09/25/2011
Completely agree. Abolition of this antiquated system is long overdue.
By The Trolls Troll
09/25/2011
I wonder when CB will call for the resignation of DA Ron Moore ... the man withheld direct evidence that would have exonerated 2 local men who ended up being released by the innocence commission specifically because of that evidence!
Both Attorneys in the case (defendants') publicly have stated that had the evidence been given to them by RON MOORE (as required by law) then they would not have encouraged their clients to plead guilty.
Meanwhile, the State of NC says that laws have been broken in this ABC fiasco and yet RON MOORE says that there "is not enough" to charge this man with anything ...... yet here we go, again; more accusations surface and I am sure the whole place stinks!
RON MOORE must go!
By ashevillelokel
09/25/2011
Another City appointed Board with no oversight. Gary Jackson where are you???
By Illuminatti_01
09/25/2011
It is regrettable my colleague wants to be judge and jury of Mr. Canty, the ABC Board and throw mud at me. The Board will review the report and take action at it's scheduled meeting Tuesday. I am terribly disappointed Cecil has made allegations suggesting impropriety without the courtesy of even a phone call. My business has serviced ABC Board vehicles since 2006 providing quality service at market prices. Early on, I advised our City Attourney and inquired of posssible conflict of interest when appointed as Liaison to the Board in 2009. Mr. Oast confirmed there was no conflict of interest. I have always acted with highest integrity and honesty in business and Council responsibilities.
By Jan Davis
09/26/2011
Given the culprit , Jan, you really shouldn't be disappointed. Surprising he let his true colors come out, though. His nature of fire, ready, aim is usually held in check somewhat by his political ambitions. He messed up here, I guess.
By indy499
09/29/2011
Complicit? Hmmm.... that bears a closer look. It is very interesting that our DA intends to do nothing about it. I don't think i will be voting for him.
By cwaster
09/28/2011
Think how much money we could save with Cecil being the prosecutor, judge and jury. Seriously, Cecil, thanks especially for the piece on Jan Davis. I was unsure about my 3rd vote for council and you helped me.
I'm voting for Jan Davis because he's an honest, small business man whose voice is needed on council. It is nice to have someone on who has actually run a business.
Thanks again for the sneak attack.
By indy499
09/29/2011