Candidate Vetting Interview- Chuck Stuber, NC Auditor

Candidate Vetting Interview Summary
Interview questions were developed by a Vetting Committee of 10 members of the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association. All candidates for a particular office were asked the same questions. Interviews were conducted by 3 rotating members of the Vetting Committee. Summaries are the agreed-upon consensus of each 3-member group. Candidates were asked to interview in-person, but phone interviews were offered for candidates living outside Craven County if schedules would not allow travel.

Chuck Stuber, Candidate NC Auditor

Interview Date: October 19, 2016
Party Affiliation: Republican
Interviewed: Phone Conference
Committee
                                                   1. Mary Griswold
                                                   2. Raynor James
                                                   3. Hal James
1)  Name:   Chuck Stuber
Phone: 919-916-9473
Address:  Chuck Stuber for Auditor
    P. O. Box 33249
    Raleigh, NC 27636
2)    Educational Background
BA Accounting NC State 1982
University of North Carolina Law School 1985 Juris Doctor
NC Bar Member
Licensed CPA in Texas and North Carolina
Credential Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

3)    Experience

Special Agent with the FBI 1985-2014
Handled complex white collar crime cases-Ponzi schemes and investment schemes, healthcare fraud, government fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, public corruption, etc.
Handled a number of high-profile cases dealing with public corruption-Jim Black, Speaker of the House, Governor Mike Easley, Congressman Frank Balance, Michael Decker in the House of Representatives, and John Edwards.

In 2014, became Chief Investigator for the North Carolina Board of Elections

Special Agent with the FBI 1985-2014
Handled complex white collar crime cases-Ponzi schemes and investment schemes, healthcare fraud, government fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, public corruption, etc.
Handled a number of high-profile cases dealing with public corruption-Jim Black, Speaker of the House, Governor Mike Easley, Congressman Frank Balance, Michael Decker in the House of Representatives, and John Edwards.
In 2014, became Chief Investigator for the North Carolina Board of Elections
4) Demonstrations of Leadership
Public corruption cases are probably some of the most difficult cases you can work on in the FBI.
Led successful investigations against prominent politicians and high lever people.
Was a hostage negotiator in a kidnapping case.
Led different raids in different areas-drugs, etc.
5) Memberships and Associations
North Carolina Bar Association
AICPA – American Institute of CPA’s
Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh
Has coached youth sports for more than 20 years
6) Why are you running for this office?
My entire career has been one of public service. I served in the FBI fighting crime. I believe that the State Auditor position can have some impact. With a background in white-collar crime, I can look for fraud and wasteful spending and hold people accountable.
Because I am not a politician, I can bring new perspective and investigative experience to the position.
7)    What is the organizational structure of your campaign, fund raising capability, etc.?
The Campaign Consultant is Rob Rosser
Chris Pittman is in charge of fund raising.
There is a network of volunteers across the state that will be holding fund raising events and working the polls.
8)    Which of the Founding Fathers do you most admire?

Thomas Jefferson –

Why?

he was prominently involved in drafting the U.S. Constitution, the best form of government ever conceived.

When I was working in Washington on FBI cases, I appreciated the Constitution.

9)    Margaret Thatcher once said, “Consensus is a lack of leadership.” Do you agree?

 I agree in that leaders have to have the courage to stand up and do what is right. Leaders have to say ‘the buck stops here.’ I’m not saying that it is not a good thing to have consensus, but leaders need to stand up.
10) Which President do you most admire?
Theodore Roosevelt – he had an adventuresome spirit-a spirit of taking action and getting into the game to help citizens, as illustrated by his ‘Man in the Arena” quote.
This is the quote:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
I relate to that quote. Not everyone appreciates the fact that you are fighting for the citizens. That speech is a call for action, rather than sitting on the sidelines criticizing.

11)   Do you believe the Founding Fathers intended the Constitution to be:

           

     a. An evolving document whose meaning changes with time?
Or

      b. A permanent set of rules to limit the power of the federal government?

Based on my law school background, I believe that the Constitution does have to evolve through the Amendment process. I believe that the Founding Fathers made allowances for changes to the Constitution to be done carefully by Amendments-not changed to conform to the politics of the time.

12) Discuss an ethical dilemma you faced. What happened?

You have to be true to yourself on the campaign. But previously, while in the FBI. A person came to us to report a crime. The person didn’t want their name used in the case. In some cases, you realize that the person bringing the case to you would have to testify in court, which would make them known to the public. In one case of corruption among public officials, there was no way to corroborate the evidence without putting this person in the public eye. Rather than put that person in the public eye, you have to either investigate another way or step back and not go further with the case because you do not want to jeopardize the person’s safety.

13) Where do individual rights come from?

Our Founding Fathers set up a government with a Constitution and Bill of Rights – that is where we derive our rights.

14) What do you know about Common Core?

That is not something that would concern me in the State Auditor’s Office. I want to avoid comments on issues unrelated to the job of State Auditor so that I can maintain my independence as a State Auditor and be unbiased.
15) Discuss an ethical dilemma you faced. What happened? How did you resolve it?
You have to be true to yourself on the campaign. But previously, while in the FBI. A person came to us to report a crime. The person didn’t want their name used in the case. In some cases, you realize that the person bringing the case to you would have to testify in court, which would make them known to the public. In one case of corruption among public officials, there was no way to corroborate the evidence without putting this person in the public eye. Rather than put that person in the public eye, you have to either investigate another way or step back and not go further with the case because you do not want to jeopardize the person’s safety.

16) What is your opinion on gun ownership, registration, and gun free zones?

As an FBI Agent, I carried a gun all of my life. I support the 2
nd Amendment. I am a proponent of gun ownership for U.S. citizens. From a law enforcement standpoint, I see the value in gun registration. I see a value to gun free zones in schools and areas like that, but I realize that criminals don’t obey laws, and that is a concern of mine.
17) What does the phrase “Separation of Church and State” mean to you?
The phrase,”separation of church and state” means that the state handles state business, but doesn’t cross over into how to worship or what to believe.

18) If elected, what would be your number one priority item during your term in office?

Dealing with serious problem of fraud, wasteful spending, and misuse of tax money. I would take a proactive approach to finding corruption, looking for fraud, waste, and corruption. I would use my FBI background to take action and hold people accountable.
Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *