Rep. Lorene Coates Calls for Jim Black to Resign

Rep. Lorene Coates, D-Rowan has called for Jim Black to resign according to both NPR radio and the Greensboro News and Record.

"I just think he really needs to step aside at this time," said Coates, D-Rowan. "He has been a friend to me, but I think he needs to focus his time on the court case. The Legislature, we need to be taking care of the business of North Carolina."

Rep. Coates said that she prays that they find Speaker Black did nothing wrong and that she doesn't like being the first Democrat to call for his resignation. She has been pressured by her opponent and constituents to take a stand on this issue.

Coates said she had been attacked by her Republican opponent in this year's election, Susan Morris, for a $4,000 donation Black gave Coates. Morris described the money as "tainted."

Majority Leader, Joe Hackney, D-Orange has said he hasn't been in touch with other Democrats while the House is out of session and doesn't know what they are thinking. He doesn't know if the call from Coates is the beginning of things to come.

I think we all know that it is.