tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9221545944710995423.post-42307326697283701582008-04-22T14:55:00.005-04:002008-04-22T15:08:04.968-04:00<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A little dust-up on the gubernatorial campaign trail has a little-noted Wilson connection. Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue ran a television ad accusing state Treasurer Richard Moore of a sweetheart deal with State Insurance Services. The insinuation was that the insurance boys used their influence with Moore to gain a contract for supplemental insurance for state retirees.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Little noticed is the name of Wilson resident and political junkie Dewey B. Sheffield, who incorporated State Insurance Services and is now its vice president. When I jokingly mentioned the deal to Sheffield, he was quick to point out that he is only one of the principals in the company — "just a small part" — and he was just as quick to defend the company's contract and performance.<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The company has filed notice that it intends to sue Perdue over the television ad, which has been removed from the air. The principals, including Sheffield, think their company's integrity has been besmirched, and they want to set the record straight, even if it takes a courtroom venture to do it.<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>These supplemental insurance contracts are pretty lucrative, given the number of state employees and retirees available for sales pitches. The dust-up caught the attention of Capitol Press Association columnist Scott Mooneyham, who wrote a recent <a href="http://www.wilsondaily.com/Opinion/Columns/Story/Suit-could-spread-light-on-supplemental-insurance-contracts--">column</a> about it.<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Perdue and Moore will settle their battle for the Democratic nomination for governor May 6. If the Perdue commercial really does go to court, it will not be settled until much later.<br /></div>Hal Tarletonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736629619718340570noreply@blogger.com