North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek announced today that former State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr. has been appointed Treasurer of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Campbell served on the Raleigh City Council from 1985 through 1992, when he was elected State Auditor and became the first African American in North Carolina history to be elected to a statewide, constitutional office and serve on the Council of State. Campbell will replace Cary attorney Jim Stephenson, who has served as Treasurer since 2001.

Chairman Meek said, I am honored that Ralph Campbell has agreed to serve as Treasurer of the North Carolina Democratic Party. As State Auditor, Ralph Campbell served as the taxpayers' watchdog and developed a reputation for his fairness, accountability and integrity. He will bring those same attributes to the state Democratic Party. I also want to thank Jim Stephenson for his faithful service to our Party during a time of tremendous change in campaign finance law.

Ralph Campbell said, For me, this is a very high honor and I look forward to working with Chairman Meek, the Executive Committee and the entire Democratic Party in insuring that the duties of Treasurer are maintained in an exemplary fashion as they have been carried out in the past.

According to the N.C. Democratic Party Plan of Organization, the Treasurer's duties are:

• Maintain the state executive committee treasury at an insured commercial bank;
• Assist the state chair in raising funds necessary for the state party to meet its goals;
  Maintain all records required by law or by the state executive committee of contributions received and disbursements made;
• Prepare and file any reports as may be required by law or by the state executive committee;
• Distribute to all members of the state executive committee a summary of the general finances of the state party as well as a summary of the funds received and disbursed by the state party for each calendar quarter within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar quarter;
• Serve on Committee for Distribution of State Campaign Fund (tax check-off).