Haywood County Board of Commissioners Candidate David Burnette

Who Is Board of Commissioner Candidate David Burnette?

As the midterm primary elections approach in Haywood County, voters face a crucial responsibility. Choosing leaders who will truly represent the community with honor, integrity, passion, and a genuine commitment to serving the people. Requirements that go beyond relying on name recognition, current community positions, or past titles.

One candidate running for a seat on the county’s Board of Commissioners is David Burnette, the CEO of the Waynesville Telco Community Credit Union. As the CEO of this credit union, Mr. Burnette is bound by both North Carolina campaign finance laws and by the ethical standards and policies set forth by the National Association of Credit Unions (NACU), which are strict and clear.

The first issue of concern is Mr. Burnette's questionable decision to place his campaign signs on the property of the Waynesville Telco Community Credit Union, where he is the CEO, at the entrance to the credit union. This action on his part may violate NC campaign statutes.

Potential Legal and Regulatory Violations:

Misuse of Corporate or Institutional Resources for Political Activity: A credit union is a member-owned, regulated financial institution, not a private individual. When a CEO, such as Mr. Burnette, places political signs on credit union property, that action may constitute the use of institutional resources for political purposes.

Potential Violations: Unlawful in-kind political contribution, and Corporate political activity using restricted resources.

Relevant Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 163-278.6(14) & Section 163-278.8

If an institution's property, staff time, or facilities are used to promote or oppose a candidate, this may constitute an in-kind contribution. Corporations (including credit unions) are prohibited from making political contributions to candidates.

Even though the CEO of the Waynesville Telco Community Credit Union is personally a candidate, as is David Burnette, he cannot leverage the employer's property or authority to promote his candidacy.

Issue: When a Credit Union CEO engages in visible political advocacy at the workplace or on the workplace property, it may create implied pressure on Credit Union employees and/or Credit Union members. Further, it may imply a perceived expectation of political alignment among Credit Union employees and/or members, creating a hostile environment for them.

 Potential NACU Ethics Violations:

Having reviewed NACU policies on credit union employees' participation in political activities, including running for political office, it appears to me that Mr. Burnette is failing to comply with those standards and policies. This apparent failure to comply with NACU policy very much put into question whether Mr. Burnette can or will meet the high standards expected and demanded of a member of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners representing the residents of Haywood County.

NACU ethical standards are basic standards of behavior that all employees, and especially senior officers, of Credit Unions are required to adhere to. Those NACU ethics standards clearly address the participation of any credit union employee in political activities, including seeking and serving in political office.

Based on my research into the NACU’s ethical standards, Mr. Burnette would be prohibited from simultaneously holding the position of Credit Union CEO and serving as a partisan member of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. Under NACU provisions, if elected, Mr. Burnette would need to step down from his position because of the real or perceived appearance of a conflict of interest between him and Credit Union employees and members. To date, Mr. Burnette has made no statement indicating that, if elected, he would step down as the CEO of the Telco Community Credit Union.

Furthermore, under NACU’s “conflict of interest” provisions, if Mr. Burnette were elected and retained his CEO position with the Telco Community Credit Union, he would be required to recuse himself from voting on any issue brought before the Board in which the credit union itself, any credit union employee, or credit union member was a party to. Failure to do so could be viewed as approval in return for votes and/or campaign financial support.

The same would hold true for any loans Telco Community Credit Union approved for other elected officials, county employees, Telco Community Credit Union employees, and/or members, which would raise concerns, as such approvals could be seen as coercion to gain their votes.

Haywood County already has a number of Commissioners whose decisions often appear to be self-serving or in the interest of their friends, campaign donors, and/or supporters. Another such member of the Board would only further deepen the distrust residents have in the Board.

Remember: know who you are voting for, because once they are elected and that individual does not share your values or standards of conduct, it is too late.

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