Hughes readies to take office as Wright spends first day in jail

As the new representative for House District 18 prepares to be formally sworn into office, the former holder of that seat spent his first full day in jail Tuesday.

Thomas Wright, who was sentenced to up to eight years in prison Monday on fraud charges, was transported to the Craven Correctional Institution near New Bern that evening, said N.C. Department of Correction spokesman Keith Acree.

As Wright was being sentenced in a Wake County Superior Court, Sandra Spaulding Hughes was reaching out to her new constituents and elected officials.

Hughes was selected last week to serve out the remaining seven months of Wright's term. She said Tuesday that she expected to be formally sworn into office early next week.

A proclamation from Gov. Mike Easley announcing her appointment was expected later this week.

Denise Weeks, principal clerk of the House, said Hughes will be given a mini-orientation when she comes to Raleigh.

The "House 101" class will include a tour of the House chamber, which will include a primer on how to use the electronic voting system, and a look around the Legislative Building.

Generally a new representative joining the General Assembly in the middle of a session is given the desk in the House chamber and the legislative office of the representative he or she is replacing.

Hughes also will pick a legislative assistant, and Bill Holmes, spokesman for House Speaker Joe Hackney, said it's likely Hughes also would be assigned to some committees.

Hughes said she is eager to get going.

So are her new constituents.

"People are ready for stability, permanency, I'd say," said the former Wilmington councilwoman. "They want someone to get down to work for them."

As Wright's legal problems mounted last year, he effectively became a lame duck in the General Assembly, stripped of his leadership positions and ostracized by his fellow lawmakers.

Hughes said that hurt the district, leaving projects that needed a local legislator's push in limbo.

"People want to move on," she said. "What's in the past is in the past. It's unfortunate that this happened, and I feel sorry for him and his family. But we need to move on."

Life in jail

Wright, in the meantime, will begin learning how to live behind bars.

Acree said Craven is one of the processing centers for male inmates in the eastern part of the state.

The four to six week course allows the department to get to know the new prisoners and the inmate the rules and regulations of the jail system.

Acree said prisoners are then transferred to other facilities in the state.

Based on the length of Wright's sentence, the former Wilmington legislator probably will be classified as a medium-security inmate.

Facilities classified as medium-security facilities in Southeastern North Carolina include the Pender and Columbus prisons. The facility in New Hanover is a minimum security.

But Acree said it could be a while before Wright gets near the Port City - assuming his attorney's attempt to have Wright freed while he appeals the conviction isn't successful.

"They really don't have much say-so coming out of processing," he said. "We generally just put them where we have space."

Gareth McGrath: 343-2384

gareth.mcgrath@starnewsonline.com