RALEIGH -- Just 15 feet separate Rep. Thomas Wright from Speaker Joe Hackney's spot on the dais in North Carolina's House of Representatives. But Hackney has gone out of his way to make it feel like miles.

For the past month, Hackney and other Democratic leaders have isolated the eight-term New Hanover County lawmaker as a campaign finance complaint grows into a criminal probe and legislative ethics inquiry.

A chorus of elected officials -- led by Hackney and Gov. Mike Easley -- have called on him to resign. Wright's legislative proposals appear to be foundering, and Hackney purposely kept him out of budget negotiations with the Senate. Wright was the only Democrat -- other than the speaker, who traditionally does not sit on the conference committee -- without a place at the table.

"With all that's going on with Rep. Wright right now, I feel like he has a lot to do and it was probably best that he be left off," said Hackney, picking his words carefully.

A defiant Wright remains in the chamber, casting votes from the same front-row desk that reflects his senior and, until recently, influential status at the General Assembly. Asked if he plans to quit, Wright offered an exasperated response.

"I was elected by the people of my district and I'm here to serve them," Wright said. "I'm voting and doing what I'm supposed to do, so what are you talking about?"

Last month, the State Board of Elections asked Wake County prosecutors to consider bringing criminal charges against Wright after reviewing evidence that showed he may have used nearly $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses and failed to properly report nearly that amount in contributions.

Evidence also suggested that Wright may have asked a state health official to fabricate a letter so a nonprofit he chaired could secure a bank loan.

The following week, Hackney said Wright should resign, indicating he could no longer be effective in the chamber. Easley, another Democrat, echoed Hackney's recommendation the next day. Wright shot right back, telling Easley and Hackney -- both attorneys -- that they passed judgment on him without due process.

"I think it's pretty inconsistent for (Easley) to call for my resignation when he hasn't called for anybody else's," Wright said, a not-so-subtle reference to former House Speaker Jim Black. Neither Black nor Easley called for Black's resignation last year, after the elections board recommended prosecutors look into his campaign finances.

Black wound up pleading guilty to federal charges, and agreeing to accept punishment on charges filed in state court.

Since Hackney and Easley called on him to resign, only one bill listing Wright as a primary sponsor has been placed on the House calendar for debate -- and that measure was ultimately removed. Hackney said he doesn't think there has been a concerted effort to block Wright's legislation, but added it was "quite possible that the committee chairs have preferred not to bring up his bills."

That worries Irving Joyner, a North Carolina Central University law school professor who was vice chairman of a commission co-chaired by Wright that investigated the 1898 race riots in Wilmington. Wright has introduced several bills incorporating the commission's recommendations, but only one has passed the House.

"We've not been able to get any traction on the bills other than the one that has passed," said Joyner, who added that Wright's troubles may become a "convenient cover for those who might not want to do anything on the bills anyway."

A judiciary committee is slated to consider a modest race riot recommendation this week, but even should it pass the House, there's little motivation for Senate leaders to do Wright any favors.

Last fall, Wright actively supported the Republican challenger to Sen. Julia Boseman, D-New Hanover. Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, who has butted heads with Wright in recent years over state employee health insurance issues, keeps a campaign flyer on his desk featuring a photo of Wright speaking for the GOP candidate.

Wright "had damaged his relationship with the Senate long before this," said Rand, D-Cumberland.

Wright's strongest supporters are within the Legislative Black Caucus, of which he once served as chairman. The current chairwoman, Rep. Alma Adams, D-Guilford, has said calls for Wright's resignation were premature and that the legal process should be allowed to take its course.

"Is he being effective? I think that he's shown up on the floor. And he's voting. And his votes are being counted," said Rep. Larry Womble, D-Forsyth, who has served 12 years with Wright.

Wright might have a financial incentive to stick around, since records indicate his government salary and expense checks appear to be his only source of income. The criticism, he says, is just part of the job.

"I can tell you at any point at any time during the year you're accused of something," he said. "You get the appropriate setting and appropriate time to respond and deal with those alleged matters and you know, you deal with it and you move on."

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.