McHenry's the reason I'm not "sweet" any more...

October 23, 2007

At my 40th anniversary Hickory High reunion a few days ago, the very first former teacher I saw—Mary Ellen Snodgrass, one of my favorites, who also lives in Caldwell County—accosted me with a broad smile and chortled: “What’s happened to you? You used to be s-o-o sweet! You need to lighten up!”

Then she grilled me on why I write letters so frequently about the iniquities of 10th District Congressman Patrick McHenry. On a few other occasions during the weekend, I took more kidding on the same theme from my classmates.

“All politicians are crooked,” a couple of them insisted. “None of them represents me in Congress,” I would reply. “I really can’t do anything about them!”

While a great time was had by all 280 attendees from the class of 1967, I realized later that Patrick McHenry is indeed the main reason I’m not “sweet” any more—and I write about him frequently, because his controversial activities provide so many opportunities.

Just this week, the highly respected political journal Roll Call pointed out McHenry’s hypocrisy on reporting real estate transactions in official House of Representatives ethics documents. The report was repeated in the Raleigh News and Observer.

Finally, the “mainstream media” has reported on the ethically questionable behaviors of “our” congressman.

Last October, McHenry bought a house in Gaston County from county commissioner Allen Fraley for $87,500, although it appraised soon after at $113,000. A few days after the “sale,” Fraley gave McHenry a $500 campaign contribution.

A McHenry spokesman told Roll Call that “all of his transactions since being elected were conducted on the open market.”

Perhaps the sales, but what about the purchases? I wonder what the law says about politicians selling property to each other at below market values, then kicking in a contribution, too. If not illegal, some would say it certainly looks “shady.”

Roll Call reported that McHenry “took the House floor late last spring and ripped into Democrats for blocking his proposal requiring Members to disclose the existence and value of their personal residences,” stating too that he “has taken considerable liberties himself with the House’s personal property exemptions.”

Will other mainstream media wake up now and start covering the kinds of things I’ve been trying to expose for three years? I wrote in August about another house, a condo on Lake Hickory that also doesn’t show up on official ethics reports.

McHenry claims he’s not required by law to disclose “personal residences.” I’m “entitled to my own opinions,” he snaps, “but not my own facts.”

The “facts” about the good congressman’s real estate transactions also show that he inherited a $40,000 share of a Lincoln County lakefront property, plus he purchased the two homes referenced—and never reported some $300,000 in values.

How many “homes” can he exempt? The Lake Hickory condo? A home in Washington? And the people of the 10th District are routinely told he lives in Cherryville!

Roll Call adds that McHenry, his four siblings and a business partner sold 40 acres to Charlotte-based real estate developer E.C. Griffith/Harris Woods last summer for $1.5 million. All the while, his ethics reports say consistently “McHenry Real Estate” has zero assets and zero liabilities! Wow!

How many politicians and others out there are helping McHenry acquire undervalued real estate, for which large profits—large unreported profits—are later turned on the “open market?” Roll Call’s analysis of public records reveals that he has held properties this year worth about $850,000.

Please, please, people, help me get rid of this guy. I do care about his lifestyle issues, his ties to known murderers and other criminals, his illegal voting connections, etc.—and I don’t want him representing me in Congress! I’m tired of having to hold my nose; Republicans deserve better!

Yes, this has been a Republican district for over 40 years, and BM—Before McHenry—those Republicans came from Caldwell and Catawba counties. David Huffman, Jay Gaither, Steve Ikerd, Steve Mull, Boyd George, Lance Sigmon and Randy Isenhower are just a few the GOP could consider as a far more creditable candidate next spring.

I’m starting a group named GROPN (Get Rid of Patrick Now) to accomplish this task in the next GOP primary. To join, visit “dennisbenfield.com” and contact me.

Getting rid of McHenry will definitely make me “sweet” again for Ms. Snodgrass.