Friends of former Ferry Division Director Jerry Gaskill, 63, of Cedar Island, are throwing a retirement party for him even though his abrupt departure from state government was apparently not by choice.
The announcement obtained by Carolina Journal states the party, featuring a pig picking, is honoring Gaskill “for his hard work and dedication to the NC Ferry Division.”
A federal grand jury indicted Gaskill on Jan. 18 on charges related to the Department of Transportation’s efforts to establish a passenger ferry service across the Currituck Sound. Gaskill had been Ferry Division director since 1993. On Jan. 20 he was placed on a 30-day paid investigative leave. He resigned on Feb. 1, the same day the state retirement system office received his retirement application in the mail.
The event will take place Saturday, March 4, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Driftwood Campground on Cedar Island. Lead organizer Larry Pittman, a Morehead City used car dealer, told Carolina Journal he and Gaskill have been friends for 25 years. Pittman is expecting 1,000 to 1,500 people for the event. “Gaskill has more friends than anyone I know in Carteret County,” he said.
Pittman said the “Donations Welcome” phrase on the invitation was to solicit funds to help defray the estimated $6,000 to $7,000 cost of the event. He said the event was not a fundraiser to help pay Gaskill’s legal bills.
The federal indictment alleges that Gaskill and others agreed in January 2004 to force Ferry Division workboats into the Corolla basin in order to create a deeper channel, knowing that no permits had been obtained for such an activity.
The indictment then alleges that on May 6 and 7, 2004 Gaskill and others actually carried out that operation to “prop wash” the channel. The indictment further alleges that on June 25, 2004 Gaskill signed a written false statement claiming the creation of the channel was unintentional and submitted that statement to the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
He is charged with conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbor Act, actual violations of both acts, and with making material false statements to federal officials about those activities.
Four other Ferry Division employees have pleaded guilty in the case. They all have private attorneys and the state will not be paying for their legal expenses. “When DOT asked for outside counsel, we recommended that they require these employees to cover the cost if they pled guilty or were found guilty. The governor’s office approved that recommendation,” N. C. Department of Justice spokeswoman Noelle Talley told CJ.
She said the same guidelines apply to Gaskill who has hired Raleigh attorney Thomas Manning. Gaskill is expected to appear in court in April to enter a plea.
Gaskill was a generous political giver. Since 2000, he and his wife have given more than $20,000 to four prominent politicians. Contributions include $10,500 to Gov. Mike Easley, $2,000 to Sen. Marc Basnight, $3,000 to Sen. Scott Thomas, and $5,000 to Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue. Gaskill’s latest contribution to Perdue’s campaign on Dec 27, 2005 was for $2000. A campaign spokesman told CJ the money was returned after Gaskill was indicted.
Scott Thomas has resigned from the state Senate and was recently appointed by Gov. Mike Easley as the District Attorney for Craven, Pamlico, and Carteret Counties. Since the Ferry Division headquarters are located in Morehead City in Carteret County, Thomas would have jurisdiction if any state law violations arise from the federal case against Gaskill.
Don Carrington is executive editor of Carolina Journal.