Dane Scalise

Candidate for NC House District 20 | New Hanover County Commissioner

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

It is time to get serious about protecting New Hanover County and the State of North Carolina. Today I officially filed to represent the people of NC House District 20. Let's win this thing!

[Tyler Voigt @TylerJVoigt]

Get this champ in the general assembly.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

As soon as I voted to pass the New Hanover County budget (no tax increase and fully funded core services!), I traveled to DC to advocate for our county to our federal leaders. Over the last few days, working alongside the American Flood Coalition, I met with Senators Budd and Tillis as well as the offices of Representatives Rouzer, Murphy, Davis, and Harris. I advocated for needed FEMA reform and flood resilient infrastructure investments. These issues are critically important to every single citizen of our county and our state. Hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters are NOT political and are, unfortunately, not "ifs" but "whens." My job as your local representative is to make sure we are ready. I will go wherever and talk to anyone to make sure we are.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

Got it done.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

I am fighting hard against the tax increase proposed by two of my commissioner colleagues (Walker & Zapple). No matter how many times they try to hide their proposed tax increase with the use of the phrase "tax adjustment," the simple truth is this: a vote to increase taxes is a vote against affordability for our citizens.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

An overdue review of the Bar and its practices. The Bar should not be, must not be politically biased.

[Woody White @WoodyWhite5]

Over the last three years, together with NC House appointee @LawrenceShaheen , I’ve co-chaired the NC State Bar Review Committee, tasked with evaluating, among other things, the @NCStateBar ‘s enforcement practices.

The NC Bar is a state agency that, for the most part, has operated since the 1930’s as relatively independent of any real public oversight, and charged with regulating NC lawyers.

If we’re being honest, the way the Bar has gone about its business is not an optimal paradigm under which to operate, if due process, transparency and public accountability are foundational principles with which we prefer government agencies to follow.

The Bar would, and does, argue that it is a “self regulating” system governed by dozens of bar councilors, elected by private members of the legal profession, and that everything under its control functions perfectly well, in an objective and even-handed manner, and any suggestion to the contrary, is unwarranted.

And in some ways - re: licensing, corporate structure compliance, continuing education - perhaps this is true - that the Bar operates effectively and serves the public well, although as a 31 year member, I remain unconvinced.

But in other ways - ways the public doesn’t see or fully grasp - in private matters, and situations where discretion is in play, where public lives and vocations are on the line, many lawyers our committee heard from, persuasively suggest the power the State Bar has deployed over the years has been heavy-handed, uneven, politically motivated, and that it has used tactics towards enforcing rules that support one way of thinking, against another.

Which, if true, is anathema to all the core tenants of a free society we hold dear: ideas such as objectivity, fairness, equal protection under the law, and justice that underpin every other facet of American life.

And which is another way of saying that, if it’s true that the state agency charged with overseeing the legal profession has been biased in how it goes about regulating the very industry that upholds these ideals more than any other industry in the western world, this is an issue worth addressing.

Our committee wasn’t fully equipped to review and resolve all of these concerns, nor to canvas and conclude whether or not they were all warranted.

But it was asked to review them, which is what we did, in public meetings, for everyone to see, and enough evidence emerged via the public record and the invitation to field complaints, to give us grave concern about the ‘state of the union’, so to speak, of the NC State Bar leadership and governing structure.

So much so, that our committee adopted a comprehensive list of recommended reforms and adopted a report that we hope the legislature takes up in the short session.

(You can find the report on our website at the nc general assembly).

This is all to say, that Today’s revelations by @NCAuditorBoliek raise similar questions about the very nature of what, I surmise, the state legislature had when it created our oversight committee.

Is the State Bar a truly unbiased and transparent institution that deploys its power, influence and money in an even handed and fair manner, without regard to any of its members’ political views?

In its hiring practices and enforcement practices, does it ensure diversity of experience and thought so as to optimize the understood objectivity as a state agency?

And if so, how do we know, for sure? Because the @NCStateBar says so?

They’ve offered no empirical evidence to suggest they operate this way, although, as a member, I wish it were the case.

But I doubt it is.

And today’s report by the State Auditor is just one of many examples of how important it is to review the ways state agencies go about conducting their business and meeting their intended objectives.

I look forward to continuing this work and thank legislative leaders for highlighting its importance.

#ncpol

[Woody White @WoodyWhite5]

Over the last three years, together with NC House appointee @LawrenceShaheen , I’ve co-chaired the NC State Bar Review Committee, tasked with evaluating, among other things, the @NCStateBar ‘s enforcement practices.

The NC Bar is a state agency that, for the most part, has operated since the 1930’s as relatively independent of any real public oversight, and charged with regulating NC lawyers.

If we’re being honest, the way the Bar has gone about its business is not an optimal paradigm under which to operate, if due process, transparency and public accountability are foundational principles with which we prefer government agencies to follow.

The Bar would, and does, argue that it is a “self regulating” system governed by dozens of bar councilors, elected by private members of the legal profession, and that everything under its control functions perfectly well, in an objective and even-handed manner, and any suggestion to the contrary, is unwarranted.

And in some ways - re: licensing, corporate structure compliance, continuing education - perhaps this is true - that the Bar operates effectively and serves the public well, although as a 31 year member, I remain unconvinced.

But in other ways - ways the public doesn’t see or fully grasp - in private matters, and situations where discretion is in play, where public lives and vocations are on the line, many lawyers our committee heard from, persuasively suggest the power the State Bar has deployed over the years has been heavy-handed, uneven, politically motivated, and that it has used tactics towards enforcing rules that support one way of thinking, against another.

Which, if true, is anathema to all the core tenants of a free society we hold dear: ideas such as objectivity, fairness, equal protection under the law, and justice that underpin every other facet of American life.

And which is another way of saying that, if it’s true that the state agency charged with overseeing the legal profession has been biased in how it goes about regulating the very industry that upholds these ideals more than any other industry in the western world, this is an issue worth addressing.

Our committee wasn’t fully equipped to review and resolve all of these concerns, nor to canvas and conclude whether or not they were all warranted.

But it was asked to review them, which is what we did, in public meetings, for everyone to see, and enough evidence emerged via the public record and the invitation to field complaints, to give us grave concern about the ‘state of the union’, so to speak, of the NC State Bar leadership and governing structure.

So much so, that our committee adopted a comprehensive list of recommended reforms and adopted a report that we hope the legislature takes up in the short session.

(You can find the report on our website at the nc general assembly).

This is all to say, that Today’s revelations by @NCAuditorBoliek raise similar questions about the very nature of what, I surmise, the state legislature had when it created our oversight committee.

Is the State Bar a truly unbiased and transparent institution that deploys its power, influence and money in an even handed and fair manner, without regard to any of its members’ political views?

In its hiring practices and enforcement practices, does it ensure diversity of experience and thought so as to optimize the understood objectivity as a state agency?

And if so, how do we know, for sure? Because the @NCStateBar says so?

They’ve offered no empirical evidence to suggest they operate this way, although, as a member, I wish it were the case.

But I doubt it is.

And today’s report by the State Auditor is just one of many examples of how important it is to review the ways state agencies go about conducting their business and meeting their intended objectives.

I look forward to continuing this work and thank legislative leaders for highlighting its importance.

#ncpol

[State Auditor Dave Boliek @NCAuditorBoliek]

Attorneys in North Carolina have no choice but to allow the North Carolina State Bar’s IOLTA program to take interest from their trust accounts. As our audit shows, IOLTA grants are going to organizations with clearly partisan, political agendas. With IOLTA’s revenues and grant payments surging, it’s incumbent that the flow of dollars is met with additional scrutiny to ensure proper use.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

https://t.co/CoYDAogWG4

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

VERY EXCITING NEWS about our efforts to bring a new medical school to UNCW. A lot of hard work has gone into getting us to this point. This week, I traveled to Morganton to advocate the case to the UNC Board of Governors. I'm happy to report it was very well-received and I am quite hopeful this proposal that started as a dream will soon become reality. Stay tuned!

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

@TheSteeFund I don't know why the Wilmington City Council did that. I disagree with them over that decision and many others. I am elected County Commissioner, which is a different political office.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

The recent violence in downtown Wilmington is tragic and unacceptable. It MUST STOP immediately. I grieve for the victims and their families. Simply put, our citizens, businesses, and tourists deserve much better. At a minimum, we need to deploy more law enforcement in the streets, especially as bars are closing. I have spoken with the Sheriff and have encouraged him to help the City however he can in downtown. He is ready, as he always is, to work with the Chief of Police to provide any assistance and support needed and requested. We are taking this violence very seriously and it will be confronted and addressed.

-Commissioner Dane Scalise

[U.S. Attorney WDNC @USAO_WDNC]

DeCarlos Brown is in federal custody on a federal indictment. The state proceedings, including any competency finding in those proceedings, are completely separate.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

@TnJeep31746 I agree. And I'm using my position and voice to do that. It hurts so much to think about this poor family who lost their son. I have 2.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

Hello, ma'am. I understand and share your frustration. For clarity, I am not a member of Wilmington City Council. I am an elected County Commissioner in New Hanover. I am offering my support and encouraging our elected Sheriff to assist the City. I fully support law enforcement and am repeatedly on record saying they need support and backing to do their job.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

@brhonemus @kristinewe69331 @TimOnPoint @WilmingtonPD @NewHanoverSO https://t.co/ZkBrwWbCJf

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

The recent violence in downtown Wilmington is tragic and unacceptable. It MUST STOP immediately. I grieve for the victims and their families. Simply put, our citizens, businesses, and tourists deserve much better. At a minimum, we need to deploy more law enforcement in the streets, especially as bars are closing. I have spoken with the Sheriff and have encouraged him to help the City however he can in downtown. He is ready, as he always is, to work with the Chief of Police to provide any assistance and support needed and requested. We are taking this violence very seriously and it will be confronted and addressed.

-Commissioner Dane Scalise

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

@mattvanswol https://t.co/KtpqsFE4C3

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

The recent violence in downtown Wilmington is tragic and unacceptable. It MUST STOP immediately. I grieve for the victims and their families. Simply put, our citizens, businesses, and tourists deserve much better. At a minimum, we need to deploy more law enforcement in the streets, especially as bars are closing. I have spoken with the Sheriff and have encouraged him to help the City however he can in downtown. He is ready, as he always is, to work with the Chief of Police to provide any assistance and support needed and requested. We are taking this violence very seriously and it will be confronted and addressed.

-Commissioner Dane Scalise

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

@brhonemus @mattvanswol Yes, sir. The County Commission and Sheriff have been and remain eager to help the city with this however we possibly can. This violence is unacceptable and must stop.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

There is absolutely nothing I could do in this world that would be more meaningful and important to me than being their dad.

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

https://t.co/HDRqZAT7gy

[Dane Scalise @danescalise]

I respectfully disagree with my colleague Commissioner Zapple in this article. I will NOT support increasing taxes. Simply put, life is too expensive right now. Government, like all families across New Hanover County, needs to live within its means. The County can and will continue to robustly support our core services, including our public schools, without increasing the tax burden on our citizens. How? It is very easy. We must focus on those core services and use tax dollars prudently and judiciously.

...

Commissioners stand on different sides of the tax hike debate.

“Life is too expensive right now. Everybody’s getting hit, in a lot of directions, on any number of things. One of the things county commissioners can do is not contribute to that problem,” commissioner Dane Scalise (R) said. “We’ve got to keep the tax rate where it is. We cannot increase it.”

“I think it’s set too low at this point to provide everything we need for our schools, as well as all the other services we have,” Rob Zapple (D) said.