Just before the opening of the 2003–2004 legislative session, Decker, an outspoken conservative, switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.[2] 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 went on to win 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 was not mentioned by name in Decker's federal plea deal).[3] 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 IHOP in Salisbury to talk.[citation needed] 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.[4] 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 C. Dever III called the scheme "an epic betrayal." He reported to a federal prison in South Carolina in September 2007.[citation needed]
Recent electoral history
2004
North Carolina House of Representatives 73rd district Republican primary election, 2004[5]
^North Carolina. Secretary of State; North Carolina. Legislative Reference Library; North Carolina Historical Commission (1916). "North Carolina manual [serial]". [Raleigh] : North Carolina Historical Commission – via Internet Archive.
^Triangle Business Journal:Conservative legislator pulls shocker, becomes Democrat
^"U.S. Attorney's Office - U.S. Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO).
^[1] | August 28, 2007 | Interview: Decker Discusses His Fall | Don Carrington | [2]
michael, decker, michael, paul, decker, born, december, 1944, former, member, north, carolina, house, representatives, represented, 94th, district, including, constituents, forsyth, county, former, teacher, from, walkertown, north, carolina, decker, served, te. Michael Paul Decker Sr born December 18 1944 is a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives who represented the 94th 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 He was born in Red Bud Illinois 1 Contents 1 Bribery scandal 2 Recent electoral history 2 1 2004 2 2 2002 2 3 2000 3 References 4 External linksBribery scandal EditJust before the opening of the 2003 2004 legislative session Decker an outspoken conservative switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party 2 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 went on to win 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 was not mentioned by name in Decker s federal plea deal 3 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 IHOP in Salisbury to talk citation needed 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 4 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 C Dever III called the scheme an epic betrayal He reported to a federal prison in South Carolina in September 2007 citation needed Recent electoral history Edit2004 Edit North Carolina House of Representatives 73rd district Republican primary election 2004 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Larry Brown 4 250 77 03 Republican Michael Decker incumbent 1 267 22 97 Total votes 5 517 100 2002 Edit North Carolina House of Representatives 94th district Republican primary election 2002 6 Party Candidate Votes Republican Michael Decker incumbent 3 908 61 17 Republican Edward L Powell 2 481 38 83 Total votes 6 389 100 North Carolina House of Representatives 94th district general election 2002 7 Party Candidate Votes Republican Michael Decker incumbent 17 110 84 96 Libertarian Ed Topolski 3 029 15 04 Total votes 20 139 100 Republican hold2000 Edit North Carolina House of Representatives 84th district general election 2000 8 Party Candidate Votes Republican Michael Decker incumbent 18 708 65 00 Democratic Joseph M Coltrane Jr 10 074 35 00 Total votes 28 782 100 Republican holdReferences Edit North Carolina Secretary of State North Carolina Legislative Reference Library North Carolina Historical Commission 1916 North Carolina manual serial Raleigh North Carolina Historical Commission via Internet Archive Triangle Business Journal Conservative legislator pulls shocker becomes Democrat U S Attorney s Office U S Department of Justice www justice gov U S Attorney s Office USAO 1 August 28 2007 Interview Decker Discusses His Fall Don Carrington 2 3 North Carolina State Board of Elections 4 North Carolina State Board of Elections 5 North Carolina State Board of Elections NC State House 084 Our Campaigns Retrieved September 22 2022 External links EditNorth Carolina House of RepresentativesPreceded byWilliam T Grimsley Jr Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 29th district1985 1993 Succeeded byJoanne BowiePreceded byConstituency established Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 84th district1993 2003 Succeeded byPhillip FryePreceded byJerry Dockham Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 94th district2003 2005 Succeeded byTracy Walker This article about a North Carolina politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael P Decker amp oldid 1118067591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
