[CJ Online has created a handy reference Web page for the Easley hearings, Who’s Who at the Easley Hearings. Details and photos will be added to the page for the duration of the hearings.]

RALEIGH — Monday at 11 a.m., the North Carolina Board of Elections will convene a hearing to investigate allegations of campaign-finance violations by former Gov. Mike Easley, donors to Easley’s campaigns, and officials of the state Democratic Party. The hearing, to take place at the Clarion Hotel in downtown Raleigh, will mark the sixth time since 1998 the elections board has launched a corruption probe.

Earlier hearings collected sworn testimony and generated criminal referrals that led to federal or state convictions of former Agriculture Secretary Meg Scott Phipps, former House Speaker Jim Black, and former state Rep. Thomas Wright, all Democrats.

In the current probe, the board announced subpoenas of 31 witnesses, including Easley. The allegations focus on free air travel, cars, and other perks campaign donors provided the ex-governor that were not reported on disclosure forms — contributions that may have exceeded permissible fundraising thresholds even if they had been disclosed properly.

Along with Easley, the witnesses subpoenaed are:

• Alan Melvin, former head of Easley’s state trooper detail.

• McQueen Campbell, a Raleigh real-estate broker who helped arrange Easley’s purchase of a lot in the Cannonsgate development on the North Carolina coast. Easley named Campbell to the N.C. State University Board of Trustees. Campbell resigned earlier this year after his role in landing a large raise for a job given Easley’s wife, Mary, at N.C. State became public. Mike Easley also took trips on aircraft Campbell owned.

• Cameron McCrae, a Bojangles franchiser and aircraft owner.

• Rusty Carter, a frat brother of Easley who provided air service to the governor.

• Dell Murphy, a hog farm owner and another aircraft owner.

• Billy Sewell, a Golden Corral franchise owner, former state transportation board member, and major Easley fundraiser.

• Marty Beam, a Kinston insurance broker appointed by Easley to a UNC System review panel.

• Nick Garrett, a developer who oversaw renovations of Easley’s home in Southport.

• Lanny Wilson, a real estate developer whose business provided $12.5 million in financing for Cannonsgate.

• Gary Allen, who owned one of the companies that developed Cannonsgate.

• John Pierce, a Jacksonville businessman and Easley fundraiser.

• Zander Guy, mayor of Surf City and an Easley fundraiser who was recently appointed by Gov. Beverly Perdue to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control board.

• Robert Bleecker, owner of a Fayetteville-area auto dealership that provided a GMC Yukon to the Easley family in 2003. The dealership owned and paid taxes on the SUV until Easley purchased it this year. The Easley campaign claimed the vehicle was a campaign car from 2003 to 2005.

• Alvin Ivey, general manager of Bleecker’s auto dealership.

• Grace Ramsey, campaign donor.

• Cari Boyce, Easley’s press secretary.

• Beverly Walker, Easley’s personal secretary.

• Ruffin Poole, Easley’s general counsel and now his law partner.

• Michael Hayden, Easley campaign finance director.

• Joseph Newsome, Easley campaign treasurer.

• Dave Horne, former Easley campaign treasurer.

• Rebecca McGhee, Horne’s assistant.

• Kathryn Hicks, finance staffer.

• Donald and Charlotte Draper, campaign staffers.

• Muriel Offernman, state Democratic Party treasurer.

• James Stephenson II, former state party treasurer.

• Jerry Meek, past state Democratic Party chairman.

• Scott Falmlen, state Democratic Party executive director, 1999-2005.

• Ralph Campbell Jr., North Carolina state auditor from 1993-2005.

Other witnesses may be called to testify.

Carolina Journal Online will provide regular updates, including live blogs from the hearings. For additional information, be sure to check CJ’s Who’s Who at the Easley Hearings.

Rick Henderson is managing editor of Carolina Journal.