Just call it the $10,000 question.
The Atlantic City Democratic Committee’s Executive Board held an emergent meeting at 5 p.m. Friday after a $10,000 check written to the committee was cashed by then-mayoral candidate Frank Gilliam.
The check was written from the Atlantic County Democratic Committee on Oct. 12, 2017, but somehow wound up at Gilliam’s headquarters — and then in his fund-raising account.
Gilliam told BreakingAC that the check was one of about eight he signed and deposited into his account that day, without seeing that it was not made out to him.
He instead questioned why the check would have been sent to his headquarters if it was meant for the committee.
The committee’s members, however, are questioning him.
They are calling for a forensic audit of their books, as well as a no confidence vote in their current leader, Joyce Mollineaux.
But there were few answers at Friday's meeting, with the board unable to take any action. Instead, they discussed the issue, and — even without a vote — showed little confidence in Mollineaux, their noticeably absent leader.
She was the one who first alerted the committee to the issue at their Jan. 22 meeting.
She was "jumping up and down," ranting about where was this money, one attendee said.
But, after finding out it was Gilliam who endorsed the check, it seems she decided the missing check was no longer an issue, said several in attendance.
Executive Board member Durwood Pinkett went public with the issue on Harry Hurley’s radio show last month, she went on the Kevin Hall Show with a statement calling it an oversight.
That statement was read to a shocked gathering of about 30 members Friday night.
Mollineaux did not return calls and texts seeking comment.
Gilliam said he believes the issue is over.
“I’ve written a check back to the county committee as directed,” he said. “We’ve spoken with the Board of Elections, and everything is square. It was simply an oversight.”
In December, Mollineaux censured Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small Atlantic County Freeholder Ernest Coursey for publicly supporting then-incumbent Mayor Don Guardian — a Republican — over Gilliam.
Councilman Kaleem Shabazz was also censured for his public support of Republican Chris Brown for state Senate over Democratic nominee Colin Bell.
The committee will have its regular meeting Monday at the Irish Pub, where they are expected to officially act on their concerns.
