Summary of Findings - NC House Republicans



Daniel V. BesseBackground ReportJune 2018Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Summary of Findings PAGEREF _Toc516819384 \h 3Background and Biography PAGEREF _Toc516819385 \h 4Identifying Information PAGEREF _Toc516819386 \h 4Biography PAGEREF _Toc516819387 \h 4Voter Registration PAGEREF _Toc516819388 \h 5Professional License PAGEREF _Toc516819389 \h 6Legal and Financial Records PAGEREF _Toc516819390 \h 7Statements of Economic Interest PAGEREF _Toc516819391 \h 7Employment PAGEREF _Toc516819392 \h 7Family and Employment PAGEREF _Toc516819393 \h 7Property Interests PAGEREF _Toc516819394 \h 7Liabilities PAGEREF _Toc516819395 \h 7Salary in Excess of $5,000 PAGEREF _Toc516819396 \h 7Businesses PAGEREF _Toc516819397 \h 8Licenses and Sources of Income PAGEREF _Toc516819398 \h 8Property Records PAGEREF _Toc516819399 \h 8978 Benjamins Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 PAGEREF _Toc516819400 \h 81136 Miller Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 PAGEREF _Toc516819401 \h 9Recorded Documents – Forsyth County PAGEREF _Toc516819402 \h 9Property Taxes – Forsyth County PAGEREF _Toc516819403 \h 9Legal Records – Traffic Cases PAGEREF _Toc516819404 \h 10Legal Records – Family Law PAGEREF _Toc516819405 \h 11Political Activities PAGEREF _Toc516819406 \h 12Campaign Finance PAGEREF _Toc516819407 \h 12Previous Committees PAGEREF _Toc516819408 \h 12Election Results PAGEREF _Toc516819409 \h 121998 – House District 39 PAGEREF _Toc516819410 \h 132008 – Lieutenant Governor Primary PAGEREF _Toc516819411 \h 13Contributions to Others PAGEREF _Toc516819412 \h 13State Contributions PAGEREF _Toc516819413 \h 14Summary of FindingsDaniel Vaughn Besse is a 64-year-old member of the Winston-Salem City Council, where he has served for 17 years. A progressive Democrat, Besse is also a licensed attorney and political consultant. Campaign finance records described him as the Political Director for the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters and financial disclosures show previous work for Planned Parenthood. Besse was married last year to Daisy Rodriguez, a director with the Northwest North Carolina Second Harvest Food Bank, and her three adult children are prominently displayed on his campaign site. Her youngest daughter, Ariana, lives in their home and works as a wellness coach with the local YMCA.Previously, Besse was married for 35 years to Kay House. Their wedding in 1977 ended in an uncontested divorce in December 2012. House received the marital home in the divorce, and Besse resided in an apartment for the subsequent four-plus years. A few months before marrying Rodriguez in August 2017, the two purchased a modest home in Winston-Salem valued at less than $100,000 for tax purposes. They secured a mortgage at $111,000 on a purchase of $125,000 leaving little equity in the home. Besse was the subject of four traffic citations over the past 35 years in North Carolina. While two of the cases related to expired registration, the other two were for speeding, including one in 2016. His ex-wife was also cited while they were married for expired registration.As a candidate, Besse has not been successful outside of Winston-Salem. In 1998, he ran for North Carolina House in District 39. After being unopposed in the primary election, he only received a third of the vote against incumbent Lyons Gray. In 2008, he opted to run statewide for North Carolina Lieutenant Governor. In a four-way primary, he came in fourth place securing less than 7-percent of the vote. During the race, he was endorsed by the Progressives.In his current bid for House District 75, Besse was unchallenged in the primary and currently lists about $31,000 cash on hand in a committee only a few months old. Background and BiographyIdentifying InformationName:Daniel Vaughn BesseDOB:December 28, 1954Address:978 Benjamin Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27103Family:Daisy Rodriguez. Stepchildren – Nicholas, Cynthia, and Ariana BartashFormer spouse: Kay Burgin HouseBiographyThe following biography was taken from Besse's campaign website: Dan Besse was born in North Carolina, son of a U.S. Marine and a public school teacher. He graduated from Hickory High School (1973), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1977), and UNC School of Law (1980).After most of a decade representing poor families as a legal aid attorney in coastal North Carolina, Dan returned to his native Piedmont and made his home in Winston-Salem. Since 2001, he has represented the Southwest Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council, elected and re-elected to represent his constituents for five terms.In both his public and private roles, Dan champions strong neighborhoods, good public schools, first-rate police and fire protection, healthy communities, equal opportunity for all, good affordable housing, good jobs for working families, and building a welcoming community for all.As an elected local official, he also makes good transportation a special focus, including safe streets, good public transit, and a growing network of safe biking and pedestrian paths, greenways, and sidewalks. He represents Winston-Salem in leadership roles on the urban area Transportation Advisory Committee, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, and the National League of Cities. As an attorney, Dan has focused on the areas of environment and public health, clean energy and utilities, and fair employment, housing, and health care access for working families. He has taught classes in environmental law and policy, and in government, at colleges from N.C State University to Winston-Salem State University and Forsyth Technical Community College. He served for 20 years on state rulemaking boards charged with protection of clean water, air, and land (including the NC Environmental Management Commission and the NC Coastal Resources Commission), by appointments of both a Republican and a Democratic governor.Dan is married to Daisy Rodriguez-Besse, who directs childhood hunger programs for our regional food bank. Daisy’s three children also make their homes in Forsyth County, where they attended the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Nicholas is a professional firefighter, Cynthia a homemaker, and Ariana (recent graduate of Appalachian State University) is pursuing a career in nutrition and wellness.Voter RegistrationBesse registered to vote in North Carolina on October 8, 1993 as a member of the Democratic Party (ID: 000010131540). Since that time, he participated in forty elections, always pulling the Democratic ballot.ElectionMethodParty Affiliation (if applicable)11/2/1993 GeneralLegacy5/3/1994 PrimaryLegacy11/8/1994 GeneralLegacy5/7/1996 PrimaryLegacy11/5/1996 GeneralLegacy9/23/1997 PrimaryLegacy11/4/1997 GeneralLegacy5/5/1998 PrimaryLegacy11/3/1998 GeneralLegacy5/2/2000 PrimaryIn-Person11/7/2000 GeneralAbsentee9/25/2001 PrimaryIn-Person11/6/2001 GeneralIn-Person9/10/2002 PrimaryAbsenteeDemocratic11/5/2002 GeneralAbsentee7/20/2004 PrimaryIn-PersonDemocratic8/17/2004 Second PrimaryIn-PersonDemocratic11/2/2004 GeneralAbsentee11/8/2005 MunicipalAbsentee6/2/2006 PrimaryAbsenteeDemocratic11/7/2006 GeneralABS – 1Stop5/6/2008 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic6/24/2008 Second PrimaryIn-PersonDemocratic11/4/2008 GeneralABS – 1Stop11/3/2009 MunicipalABS – 1Stop5/4/2010 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic6/22/2010 Second PrimaryIn-PersonDemocratic11/2/2010 GeneralABS – 1Stop5/8/2012 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic7/17/2012 Second PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic11/6/2012 GeneralABS – 1Stop9/10/2013 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic11/5/2013 MunicipalABS – 1Stop5/6/2014 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic7/15/2014 Second PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic11/4/2014 GeneralABS – 1Stop3/15/2016 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic6/7/2016 PrimaryABS – 1StopDemocratic11/8/2016 GeneralABS – 1Stop5/8/2018 PrimaryABS – 1Stop DemocraticProfessional LicenseBesse was admitted to practice law in the State of North Carolina on August 23, 1980 (ID: 9118). His license is considered active, and he does not appear to be the subject of any disciplinary action.Legal and Financial RecordsStatements of Economic InterestBesse completed statements of economic interest covering calendar years 2014 to 2017 as a member of the Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO. In addition, he filed as a candidate for the May 2018 primary.Employment2014 – 2016 – Self-employed Attorney/Consultant2017 – Council Member, City of Winston-SalemFamily and EmploymentFor the first time in 2017, Besse listed a spouse, Daisy Rodriguez and her daughter, Ariana Natasha Bartash, as people who live in his home.Daisy Rodriguze – SpouseDirector of Childhood Hunger Programs for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North CarolinaAriana Natasha Bartash – Spouse’s ChildWellness Coach at YMCA of Northwest North CarolinaProperty InterestsAlso, during 2017, Besse listed proprety owned by himself and Daisy in his disclosure.100% interest in a parcel in Winston-Salem owned by Besse and Daisy Rodriguez100% interest in a parcel in Winston-Salem owned by Daisy RodriguezLiabilitiesBesse disclosed that Daisy holds mortgage and an auto loan in 2017. Her daughter owes student loans.Salary in Excess of $5,000Between 2014 and 2016, Besse listed his income with the City of Winston-Salem and consulting fees he received. In 2017, Daisy was included as an employee of Second Harvest Food Bank.Calendar YearSourceIndustryType2014 – 2017City of Winston-SalemCity GovernmentSalary2014Planned Parenthood Health Systems Inc.Health CareConsulting Fees2014 – 2017 North Carolina League of Conservation VotersNon-ProfitProfessional/ Consulting2014North Carolina League of Conservation Voters FoundationEnvironmental EducationProfessional/ Consulting2015 – 2017 Democratic Municipal OfficialsNon-ProfitConsulting Fees2017Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North CarolinaNon-ProfitSalaryIn addition, he disclosed that he is an independent contractor for both Planned Parenthood (2014) and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation (2014-2017) and that Planned Parenthood receives health education grants from the State of North Carolina. In 2017, he indicated that Second Harvest Food Bank receives state and federal support for their food-assistance programs.Daisy also serves as a board member for the Forsyth Humane Society.BusinessesBesse operates his own business, a sole-proprietorship tied to his legal and consulting company.Licenses and Sources of IncomeBesse is a licensed attorney in the State of North Carolina and he received more than $10,000 from environmental interests in 2014 through 2016.Property RecordsSince the early 1990s, Besse co-owned two homes in Winston-Salem. The most recent, purchased with his then-girlfriend in May 2017, is a tiny home on 0.09 acres.978 Benjamins Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27103(APN: 6804-54-1708)Purchased on May 31, 2017 from Mauricio Cruz for $123,500 Secured a $111,150 loan through Equity Resources Inc. on the same day1,152 square foot, 3-bed, 2-bath home on 0.09 acres valued at $96,400 in 20161136 Miller Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103(APN: 1682-107)Purchased on December 20, 1993 for $82,000 from Kathryn A. McLain1,365 square foot, 2-bed, 1-bath home on 0.52 acres valued at $127,297 in 2010Signed a quit claim deed transferring the parcel to Kay B. House on June 14, 2012Recorded Documents – Forsyth CountyThe following documents were recorded in Forsyth County and list Besse as a party:Kay B. House and Besse purchased a parcel described as 1136 Miller Street, Winston-Salem from Kathryn A. McLain, listed as legally separated, on December 20, 1993. On the same day, House and Besse borrowed $65,600 from Enterprise National Bank of Piedmont. The deed of trust was immediately assigned to Wells Fargo Bank NA.House and Besse refinanced to a 30-year $44,959 loan through Wells Fargo Bank NA on November 22, 2010.On December 20, 2010, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage released the $65,000 loan signed by House and Besse on December 20, 1993.Besse signed a quitclaim deed transferring his interest in 1136 Miller Street to his ex-wife, Kay House on June 14, 2012.On August 4 2012, Wells Fargo Bank NA released the $44,959 loan signed by House and Besse on November 22, 2010.Daisy Rodriguez and Besse, both unmarried, purchased a home at 978 Benjamins Way, Winston-Salem from Mauricio Cruz and Luz Bibian Molina Plascencia on May 31, 2017.On the same day, Rodriguez and Besse borrowed $111,150 from Equity Resources Inc. over 30 years.Property Taxes – Forsyth CountyAll property taxes back to tax year 2008 (as far back as we were able to access records) on the home owned by Besse with his former wife, Kay House, are current and were paid on time until she sold the home in July 2017. Tax YearDate PaidAmountPenalty/Interest200810/16/2008$1,488.43$0200911/6/2009$1,463.12$0201011/11/2010$1,462.68$0201111/4/2011$1,462.68$0201211/5/2012$1,483.04$0201311/15/2013$1,584.68$0201411/6/2014$1,597.39$0201511/5/2015$1,647.22$0201610/25/2016$1,672.64$0201711/17/2017$2,125.33$0 Taxes on Besse’s current home, 978 Benjamins Way, Winston-Salem, NC, are current since it was purchased in May 2017. In 2017, he and Rodriguez paid $1,476.76 on November 17, 2017. Legal Records – Traffic CasesBesse was named as the defendant in four traffic cases in North Carolina during the past 35 years.Speed faster than reasonable (case no. 83CR033359)Filed on November 4, 1983 in Durham County District CourtConvicted on January 11, 1984Expired Registration Card/Tag (case no. 84CR078344)Filed on November 3, 1984 in Guilford County District CourtDismissed on November 30, 1984Expired Card/Registration Tag (case no. 92CR007350)Filed on August 20, 1992 in Orange County District CourtDismissed on September 17, 1992Speeding, 44mph in a 35mph zone (case no. 16IF710038)Filed on May 22, 2016 in Forsyth County District CourtHeld responsible on June 21, 2016 and paid $188 in fines and court costsBesse’s ex-wife Kay House was named as the defendant in an expired registration case from 2006 and a failure to maintain lane control in 2016.Because her name is relatively common, we were unable to determine which of the many cases in North Carolina naming Daisy Rodriguez as a party were tied to Besse’s wife.Legal Records – Family LawBesse petitioned for divorce from Kay Burgin House on November 9, 2012 in Forsyth County District Court (case no. 12CVD7527). According to the filing, the two were wed on May 22, 1977 in McDowell County, NC and were married for 35 years. The two did not have any children. They separated on May 23, 2011. A decree of absolute divorce was signed on December 19, 2012.Political ActivitiesCampaign FinanceBesse formally created Dan Besse for NC House (ID: STA-C1395N-C-003) with the North Carolina State Board of Elections on February 12, 2018 by filing a disclosure report. It was filed as an amendment in March 2018. Since that time, he reported raising more than $37,000 and spending only $1,250. At the close of the April reporting period, Besse reported $31,500 cash on hand.Time PeriodContributionsExpendituresCash on HandOrganizational$13,039.04$81.30$12,957.742/2/2018 – 4/21/2018$18,124.86$1,159.34$31,523.26Late Contributions$5,200.00n/an/aPrevious CommitteesBesse established two previous committees – Dan Besse for NC House (ID: STA-C1395N-C-001) and Dan Besse 2008 (ID: STA-C1395N-C-002) – dating back to the late 1990s.The original Dan Besse for NC House from 1998 and 1999 raised more than $14,000 and spent the same during the 1998 election cycle.Time PeriodContributionsExpendituresCash on Hand1998$12,634.21$12,187.09$447.121/1/1999 – 6/30/1999$1,594.88$2,042.00$0Dan Besse 2008 reported raising and spending more than $315,000 between 2006 and 2010.Time PeriodContributionsExpendituresCash on Hand2006$31,076.12$464.65$30,611.472007$135,903.82$13,501.54$122,402.282008$148,625.27$138,522.45$10,102.822009$0$4,550.00$5,202.822010$0$5,202.82$0Election ResultsBesides his successful bids for Winston-Salem City Council, Besse has not been elected to office in attempts in 1998 for State House and in 2008 for Lieutenant Governor. 1998 – House District 39Besse attempted to unseat Republican incumbent Lyons Gray in the 1998 general election for House District 39. He received about one-third of the vote.CandidateParty AffiliationVotesPercentageDan BesseDemocrat6,89532.1%Lyons GrayRepublican14,57067.9%2008 – Lieutenant Governor PrimaryIn 2008, he was supported by the Progressives and received their endorsement. He came in fourth in a field of four candidates in a race ultimately won by Walter Dalton.CandidateParty AffiliationVotesPercentageWalter DaltonDemocrat608,29045.73%Hampton DellingerDemocrat446,67833.58%Pat SmathersDemocrat182,60713.73%Dan BesseDemocrat92,6166.96%Contributions to OthersAccording to the Federal Elections Commission website, Besse gave nearly $5,100 to federal candidates and committees, including more than a dozen small-dollar contributions to Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid in 2016.RecipientDateAmountNorth Carolina Democratic Party4/30/2007$250.00Elaine Marshall for Senate8/20/2002$300.00Roy Carter for Congress Committee9/30/2008$500.00North Carolina Democratic Party 7/23/2010$250.00North Carolina Democratic Party5/3/2011$250.00North Carolina Democratic Party6/5/2016$625.00North Carolina Democratic Party7/10/2016$625.00North Carolina Democratic Party8/13/2007$310.00Hillary for America4/6/2016$50.00Hillary for America4/14/2016$25.00Hillary for America4/19/2016$25.00Hillary for America4/30/2016$250.00Hillary for America7/31/2016$25.00Hillary for America8/30/2016$50.00Hillary for America9/12/2016$50.00Hillary for America9/26/2016$50.00Hillary for America9/28/2016$50.00Hillary for America10/5/2016$50.00Hillary for America10/27/2016$50.00Hillary for America10/29/2016$50.00Hillary for America10/31/2016$50.00Hillary for America11/7/2016$250.00Tom Perriello for Congress10/24/2010$200.00Brad Miller for United States Congress8/10/2006$250.00North Carolina Democratic Party5/1/2006$250.00North Carolina Democratic Party5/16/2006$250.00State ContributionsBesse’s state contributions totaled more than $8,400 during the past 20 years. A loan to his 2008 committee shows that it was repaid.RecipientDateAmount Ed Wilson Campaign11/14/99$100.00Ed Wilson Campaign12/4/99$50.00Ed Wilson Campaign3/29/00$500.00Elect Alice G Underhill Nc House 310/16/02$500.00Forsyth Dm3/1/03$100.00Guilford Dec8/14/07$100.00Guilford Dec9/4/07$45.00Anderson For House8/11/10$500.00Comm To Elect Rick Glazier8/11/10$500.00Anderson For House10/27/10$100.00Dan Besse 2008?$0.00Forsyth Dm10/30/01$100.00Forsyth Dm8/24/02$100.00Wake Dw4/29/08$80.00Dalton For Governor10/16/08$100.00Foriest For Senate Comm8/15/10$500.00Comm To Elect Margaret Dickson8/16/10$500.00Elect Alice G Underhill Nc House 38/20/10$500.00Foriest For Senate Comm10/6/10$200.00Comm To Elect Margaret Dickson10/21/10$100.00Justice Cheri Beasley Committee10/1/14$100.00Comm To Elect Dana Cope10/10/99$100.00Mike Easley Comm9/26/00$500.00Loretta Biggs For Nc Ct Of Appeals7/19/02$100.00Loretta Biggs For Nc Ct Of Appeals10/9/02$100.00Robin Hudson Campaign Comm4/18/06$200.00Robin Hudson Campaign Comm4/18/06$200.00Alamance Dec4/23/07$100.00Duplin Dec4/25/08$25.00Duplin Dec4/25/08$57.00Forsyth Dm5/17/08$125.00Bev Perdue Comm6/27/08$500.00Nc Yd8/31/11$250.00Bev Perdue Comm12/2/11$100.00Dalton For Governor5/2/12$150.00Dalton For Governor7/18/12$100.00Elaine Marshall Comm8/30/12$50.00Dalton For Governor9/21/12$50.00Re-Elect Justice Hudson4/18/14$100.00Cooper For North Carolina12/18/14$100.00Cooper For North Carolina2/10/16$150.00Cooper For North Carolina5/19/16$150.00Cooper For North Carolina9/6/16$150.00Cooper For North Carolina10/31/16$50.00Cooper For North Carolina11/10/16$50.00Nc Dec - State1/22/18$150.00Ervin For Supreme Court9/10/14$50.00### ................
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