THE
OLD SCHOOL
CONSERVATIVE 

JIM
PENDERGRAPH

Served as an MP in the Army, street cop, and Sheriff of Mecklenburg County

ANOTHER
MILLIONAIRE
POLITICIAN 

ROBERT
PITTENGER

Teamed up with convicted felon, Democrat Jim Black to help craft legislation that made Pittenger millions at taxpayers' expense - Read More Here 

JIM PENDERGRAPH

• As Sheriff, Jim cut spending more than 10% from his budget by privatizing medical, food and maintenance services. Jim, the fiscal conservative with the record to prove it, is running for Congress to make the difficult cuts necessary to get our financial house back in order.
  
  
• Jim started the Work Release program for inmates which has significantly decreased the rate of repeat offenders, saving you the taxpayer, the cost to incarcerate them.
  
  
• Jim started programs to protect you and your family including the Sex Offenders Tracking program for citizens to know the whereabouts of every registered sex offender, which has now been adopted by the state; the Domestic Violence Program, which must be completed by inmates incarcerated for these crimes before being released from custody; and the Victim Notification Program, which notifies victims of domestic violence when the offender is about to be released from custody.
  
  
• Jim issued the first concealed carry permit in North Carolina and is a staunch advocate and supporter of our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.
  
  
• Jim was the first Sheriff on the east coast to implement the 287(g) program that has identified more than 13,000 criminal illegal aliens and placed them into processing for deportation. Educating illegals in Mecklenburg County alone cost taxpayers approximately $100 million annually.

Early Voting: June 28 - July14

Click here for Early Voting Information

Runoff Election Date is July 17

ROBERT PITTENGER

• Politician Pittenger accuses Jim of secretly taking a taxpayer funded bonus he didn't deserve – an accusation that his own source, the Charlotte Observer, ousted to be a boldface lie calling it, “real dirty politics”. As State Senator, Pittenger voted against funding for police and teachers (Source), and now he’s calling their retirement a “Scheme to live off the taxpayers.” (Source) Meanwhile, Pittenger takes his own taxpayer funded state pension after attacking our veterans for living off the taxpayer. (Source) He says he gives it to charity – so he gets a tax deduction giving your money away.

• Politician Pittenger touts his Republican Party purity and accuses Jim of being a former Democrat. Meanwhile, Pittenger’s spouse has made multiple $1,000 donations to the disgraced Senator John Edward’s campaign. (Source)

• Politician Pittenger claims he’ll stand up for you and protect your values. Meanwhile, Pittenger has spent the 3rd most money of any Congressional candidate in the country during this campaign, and has spent more than $7 million over the past 10 years trying to buy political office. When has a millionaire career politician ever shown interest in you other than at election time?

• Politician Pittenger touts himself as “effective”. Meanwhile, NC Center for Public Policy Research – an independent nonpartisan organization – ranked Pittenger 49th most effective out of 50 state senators because of no shows. (Source) Robert Pittenger accuses Jim of “living off the taxpayer” yet took your money to not work!
  
  
• Politician Pittenger touts himself as "conservative". Meanwhile, as State Senator, Pittenger voted for new and higher taxes that hurt small business in NC and even opposed capping the gas tax.

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You know nothing about Robert Pittenger other
than what he wants you to know

Robert Pittenger has spent more than $8 million over the past 10 years trying to buy political office. During this campaign, reports show that Pittenger has now put more money into this campaign than any Congressional candidate in the country attacking me with one lie after another. (Read more here)  It's time to set the record straight. It's time you know the truth - the facts - the real story. You have a choice on July 17th. Who do you trust to represent you in Congress? 

CHAPTER 1: "THE RETIREMENT"

Politician Pittenger accuses Jim of secretly taking a "taxpayer funded bonus" he didn't deserve (1) – an accusation that his own source, the Charlotte Observer, outed to be a boldface lie calling it, “real dirty politics”. (2) Meanwhile, as State Senator, Pittenger voted against funding for police and teachers (3), and now he’s calling their retirement a “Scheme to live off the taxpayers". (4) Now, The Charlotte Observer reveals that Pittenger currently takes his own taxpayer funded state pension after attacking our veterans for living off the taxpayer. (5) He claims he gives it to charity – so he gets a tax deduction giving your money away.

Read More Here

Pittenger's Attack Mailer "Secret Bonus"

Pittenger's Attack Mailer "Get Rich Quick Guide"

Pittenger's Attack MaileR "Double Dip"

THE TRUTH - THE FACTS

• Pittenger wants you to believe Jim took a "secret taxpayer funded bonus" that he didn't deserve. The "bonus" Pittenger references is actually not a bonus at all - its Jim's earned retirement, which includes his self-funded 401K. Jim's retirement is for his 37 years of service as an MP in the Army, street cop, and Sheriff of Mecklenburg County.
  

• Another Pittenger source is County Manager Harry Jones who issued the following statement on April 4th refuting Pittenger's false accusations which read, “The additional amounts of accrued vacation paid to Commissioner Pendergraph at the time of his retirement were for benefits he earned during his service as Mecklenburg County Sheriff." (6)
  

• Jim and his wife released their tax returns to prove they had nothing to hide, and challenged Pittenger to do the same given his statement, "Voters have a right to know the background of a candidate,". Pittenger's response to allowing voters the right to know his background: "NO". (7)
  

• Pittenger is another millionaire politician who seems to live by a different golden rule - the one that says: He who has the money, makes the rules. Only a politician like Pittenger can accuse a man of "stealing" from the public, and then cower behind his wife to prevent having to face the public on his own merit. So, which is it, Mr. Pittenger? Do you believe in transparency and that voters have a right to know, or is this just something you say to get elected?

1. Transcript of Robert Pittenger's TV AD: "Secret Bonus" - Read Here 
2. Charlotte Observer: Pittenger's Attack Ad - A Breakdown - Read Here
3. Bill HR 1473 - Pittenger voted No - Read Here
4. Pittenger Mailer - Get Rich Quick Guide - Page 3 - Read Here
5. Charlotte Observer: Pittenger's Pension Proves Ironic - Read Here
6. Charlotte Observer: Mecklenburg County Harry Jones Statement - Read here.
7. Charlotte Observer: Pendergraph Releases Tax Returns - Read Here
   

CHAPTER 2: "PARTY PURITY"

Politician Pittenger touts his Republican Party purity and attacks Jim for being a former Democrat. Meanwhile, Pittenger is proud to promote his photos with the former President Ronald Reagan and the late Senator Jesse Helms - both of whom were former Democrats turned Republicans. Then there's the fact that Pittenger's wife has made several $1,000 contributions to disgraced former Senator John Edward’s campaign. (1) Does Pittenger attack her? Or what about his Father-in-law, the late Cy Bahakel, who was a lifelong Democrat? Surely, Pittenger doesn't attack the man who launched his career. Maybe most revealing however, is as State Senator, Pittenger teamed up with convicted felon and Democrat Jim Black, to craft legislation that made Pittenger millions at taxpayers' expense. (2)

Pittenger's Attack Mailer "Pull the Wool Over Our Eyes" Pittenger's Attack Mailer "Throwing Mud"

Pittenger's Attack Mailer "Who Can We Trust"

Pittenger's Attack Mailer "Voter Guide"

THE TRUTH - THE FACTS

• Jim was born and raised on a farm in Steele Creek right here in the district.  Back then, everyone was a Democrat - and Democrats were the Conservatives.  Jim changed parties because his traditional values and conservative principles were not welcomed by the Democratic Party.

• Factcheck.org says Pittenger's claims are "off the mark," (3) that, "Jim Pendergraph signed a no new taxes pledge and 18 days later broke it." (4)

•  Jim and all Republican County Commissioners recently voted to create new fire districts in the areas within Mecklenburg County that used to be serviced and paid for by Charlotte residents. Before, Charlotte residents were paying for County residents who didn't live inside the Charlotte city limits to receive fire services. By creating the new fire districts, Jim and the Republicans cut taxes for every Charlotte city resident, including Pittenger, and shifted the cost of these fire services to the residents who receive the service, like Jim. Does Pittenger support paying taxes for services you don’t receive? Does he support raising Charlotte residents taxes so those who don’t live in the city limits receive fire service for free? You can read more about this issue in an email Jim recently sent to Pittenger and supporters here. (5) 

•  Pittenger claims, "We need to make sure we elect an effective conservative Republican to represent our North Carolina families in Washington." (6) Meanwhile, NC Center for Public Policy Research – an independent nonpartisan organization – ranked Pittenger 49th most effective out of 50 state senators because of no shows. (7)

• As Sheriff, Jim cut spending more than 10% from his budget as Sheriff by privatizing medical, food and maintenance services. Jim started the Work Release program for inmates which has significantly decreased the rate of repeat offenders, saving the taxpayer the cost to incarcerate them.  

• Jim was elected Mecklenburg County Commissioner in 2010 as the top Republican vote getter.
  

1. FEC Report for Senator John Edwards Containing Pittenger's wife donation - Read Here
2. House Bill 705 - Pittenger voted Yes to Annex his property into the town of Waxhaw - Read Here
3. FactCheck.org: Primary Piffle in North Carolina - Read Here
4. Pittenger Mailer - Pull the Wool Over Our Eyes - Page 3 - Read Here
5. Email from Jim Pendergraph to Pittenger regarding the facts of the fire districts - Read Here
6. Pittenger Mailer - Who Can We Trust - View Here
7. Effectiveness Ranking from NC Center for Public Policy Research - View Here
8. Charlotte Observer Article: "DOT Letter Investigation" - Read Here
   

CHAPTER 3: "TRUST"

The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines public corruption as a breach of trust by federal, state, or local officials. Examples include a judge’s rulings, a legislator’s vote, or a bureaucrat’s contract for work.
 

In 2003, then State Senator Robert Pittenger failed to recuse himself from a vote on a bill upon which he profited. That’s against the law and appears to constitute a case of public corruption that will be investigated based on the facts. Our Party can’t afford to permit this black cloud to effect someone contending to be our nominee for Congress at a time when we are trying to elect a Republican President and Congress.

Below is a timeline of events along with the public records, County Deeds, Versions of House Bill 705, and other information pertaining to this apparent breach of trust. Mr. Pittenger has given numerous responses to these accusations, beginning with a contention that he didn’t own the land that was inserted into the bill for annexation, and continuing through his most recent claim that he didn’t push for the amendment to the bill. The facts below indicate that both claims are false.

An official Complaint of Unethical Behavior was filed against Pittenger regarding this matter on June 25, 2003. Pittenger claims that the Committee found no wrong doing, when in fact the Committee never was able to officially debate the claim because many of the members’ on the Ethics Committee had to recuse themselves from the matter based on conflicts of interest and business associations that they  maintained with Pittenger at the time. The legislative session expired without any action being taken on the case because there were too few members remaining to hear the complaint under the legislative rules. Like other bills introduced in the legislature, they must be re-introduced every legislative session as does any Ethic Complaint. This complaint was not re-introduce and never taken up by the Ethics Committee.

Read the Report Here

TIMELINE

5/10/1991
Pittenger purchased 462.828 Acres of Land in Union County, NC – Parcel 06-135-003
Robert Pittenger’s LLC “Cuthbertson Road Joint Venture” purchased 462.828 Acres of Land in Union County, NC – Parcel 06-135-003. View here

 

3/26/2003
House Bill (HB)-705 is filed by Representatives Jim Black and Jim Gulley
Democrat Jim Black introduces House Bill 705, “Matthews Annexation”, which is an act to annex to the town of Matthews all the territory remaining in its sphere of influence. View here

5/28/2003
House Bill (HB)-705 is passed by the NC House                                        
House Bill 705 receives final passage in the North Carolina State House and has no mention of annexing Pittenger’s property. View here 

6/18/2003
House Bill (HB)-705 is amended by the Senate Finance Committee to annex Pittenger’s land into the town of Waxhaw
NC Senate Finance Committee amends HB705 adding language annexing PITTENGER’S PROPERTY INTO WAXHAW. Pittenger is a Member of the Senate Finance Committee when the bill is amended to include annexing his investor group’s land into the town of Waxhaw. View bill here

6/18/2003
Email transcript between Bill Drafting Director, Gerry Cohen and Members wherein Mr. Cohen is requesting permission to share the bill with another Member per the rules of the legislature; and Mr. Pittenger approves
Under the Rules of the Legislature, while bills or amendments are being drafted, they are the exclusive property of the legislator(s) requesting the proposed legislation to be drafted. Other members are not allowed access without the permission of those who made the initial request to bill drafting. View transcript here

6/23/2003
The Senate passes the Amended Substitute of House Bill (HB)-705
The Senate votes to pass the amended substitute of HB705, which amendment contains no other changes except to include Pittenger’s property to be annexed into the town of Waxhaw. PITTENGER VOTED “YES”. View bill here | View vote here

6/24/2003
Senate passes final version of the Amended HB705 which becomes law
The Senate passes the final amended HB705 which now annexes Pittenger’s property into the town of Waxhaw. The new version of HB705 was then passed by the NC House and signed by the Governor to become law. PITTENGER VOTED “YES”. View final bill here | View vote here

8/15/2005
Robert Pittenger’s LLC sells the land that Pittenger voted to have annexed into the town of Waxhaw– Parcel 06-135-003
Pittenger’s investment group sold the land after Pittenger voted to have it annexed into the town of Waxhaw, which increased the value of the land. In fact, the Charlotte Observer reported that Robert Pittenger Company marketing documents showed that he sold the land for $53,000 per acre, which is $10,000 more per acre than the amount for which Pittenger had sold the adjacent land in 2003. View here  

SOURCES 

1. Charlotte Observer: "Questions Linger About Pittenger Land Deals" - Read Here 
2. Charlotte Observer: "Pendergraph, Pittenger Spar in 9th District Debate" - Read Here
3. Charlotte Observer: "Pendergraph Isn't Pittenger's Only Opponent - Read Here