Many Officials Confused about Disclosure Forms’ Rules – or are they?
Mac McLean wrote an excellent article Many Officials Confused about Disclosure Forms’ Rules in the Bristol Herald Courier. Mac McLean did some great research and I encourage you to read the entire article.
The law requires that they report all private income, but not what they receive for serving in the public office they hold. The law states that as a general rule, any private income that must be reported to the IRS should be included on the form, including wages, capital gains, lecture fees, dividends, business income, bank account interest, payments from annuities, and trust income.
…..Sullivan County Commissioner Buddy King of Bristol said he “filled out the form according to how it read,” but when shown a copy, he said he didn’t remember filling one out.
Read more via Many Officials Confused about Disclosure Forms’ Rules | TriCities.
This blog on Feb 23, 2009 posted the following concerning Commissioner Buddy King. Sullivan County Commissioner ethics exposed
There was another Commissioner that voted for the above resolution whose name is James “Buddy” King from Bristol. Apparently, open government is not important to Commissioner James “Buddy” King for wanting to discuss the “peoples’ business” in private.
Upon checking the “Statement of Disclosure of Interests” submitted by Commissioner James “Buddy” King, there are some areas of concern.
The 2009 “Statement of Disclosure of Interest” filed by Commissioner James “Buddy” King on January 14, 2009, shows no income, investments, etc.
2009 Statement of Disclosure of Interests (ss-8005) (filed 2009-01-14) Witness by Larry Bailey
The 2008 “Statement of Disclosure of Interest” filed by Commissioner James “Buddy” King on January 14, 2008, again shows no income, investments, etc. and is essentially the same as year 2009, except that James “Buddy” King was his own witness.
2008 Statement of Disclosure of Interests (ss-8005) (filed 2008-01-14) Witness by James “Buddy” King
It is very unusual that Commissioner James “Buddy” King would not have any income to declare on his 2009, 2008 disclosures filed with the State. However, in the 2007 “Statement of Disclosure of Interest” for Commissioner James “Buddy” King, it gets interesting.
On page 916 in the link 2007 Disclosure of Interests for Local Office Holders and Candidates it states the following sources of income, investments, and lobbying activities.
Sources of Income
SOCIAL SECURITY, ORNL RETIREMENT, MATERIALS ENGINEERING & TESTING Investments
TEAMSTERS RETIREMENT, STATE RETIREMENT (SULLIVAN COUNTY)
Lobbying:
WALMART, BB&T BANK,CSX RAILROAD, SPRINT/NEXTEL
Why are you not disclosing your income, investments, lobbying activities for the last two years Commissioner James “Buddy” King? This information is the publics’ business and plus, I think it is the law that it needs to be disclosed.
I find it particularly interesting to find that Commissioner James “Buddy” King is an elected official of Sullivan County and yet was involved and could still be involved in lobbying activities.
