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Saturday, June 2, 2007
Cardwell leaves WSB-TV one day, announces for U.S. Senate the next
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Friday, Dale Cardwell ended an 11-year stint as an investigative reporter at WSB-TV.
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On Saturday, he became a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, looking to knock off Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Surprise.
“It’s been so doggone hard to keep this under wraps,” the 44-year-old former journalist said. But he’s done it.
Cardwell, a six-time Emmy winner, will formally announce his candidacy on Monday at his campaign headquarters in College Park. He joins DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones as the only Democrats yet to express public interest in the ’08 race.
Cardwell said he will run against what he calls the daily, debilitating corruption of Washington, and promises to eschew money from special interest groups and political action committees.
Anyone who has seen Cardwell on TV knows there is a mild-mannered look about him.
But it turns out there’s a bit of mad-as-hell Howard Beale in him, too. “I have a passion as a believer and an observer, and I just can’t stand it any more,” Cardwell said.
The first issue he mentioned to us was the immigration reform bill now before the U.S. Senate, and hammered out with the assistance of both Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.
Cardwell called it an “amnesty” bill that’s aimed at satisfying corporate interests. “Georgia has to be freed from this illegal invasion that’s holding down salaries,” he said.
No, Cardwell hasn’t ever run for public office before. But he’s got a background that lends weight to his rookie attempt. And it was pointed out to us that WSB-TV’s footprint covers 60 percent of the state.
“I don’t have any baggage. I have 5 million people — they may not know my name, but they know what I stand for,” Cardwell said. “They know I’m an equal opportunity investigative reporter. I’ve investigated as many Democrats as I have Republicans.”
But Cardwell’s family background is hardcore Democrat. He was born in Kentucky and raised in Alabama, the son of a union man, a coal miner.
His wife Angie, of 21 years, is a hospice nurse. He has two children, 19-year-old Adam and 16-year-old Jessica.
Here’s a tidbit from his official bio: His mother “recalls Dale was born during a particularly brutal winter, and [that she] went as far as wrapping her newborn in blankets and placing him on the opened door of the kitchen oven, in order to ward off the single digit temperatures and biting wind that pounded the mobile home in which they lived.
Says the new candidate: “If you boil both parties down to the salt, the Republican motto is survival of the fittest. The Democratic motto is do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Cardwell says his Southern Baptist upbringing would never let him embrace social Darwinism.
It doesn’t sound like Cardwell will be one of those white Democrats who cringe at any mention of religion. He’s a deacon and substitute Sunday school teacher at Dunwoody Baptist.
His bio also lists his hobbies: restoring classic cars, sports, and singing with his brother in their long-time gospel group. So music at fund-raisers will be no problem.
Tell us the truth. You thought Clark Howard had a lock on local politics, didn’t you?
Go to the jump to read the official bio that Cardwell’s new campaign organization has put out, and a summary of his journalistic accomplishments.
Dale Cardwell Bio
Dale Cardwell is one of the premier and most consistently honored investigative journalists in Georgia. His six “Emmy” awards, presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, as well as numerous other honors such as 2005’s “Journalist of the Year,” from the Atlanta Press Club, bear testament to the positive change he has brought to the people of the “Peach” state.
Dale’s investigations have saved taxpayers millions of dollars, and resulted in the prosecution and or resignation of numerous corrupt politicians and their appointees.
William “Dale” Cardwell was born in Greenville, Kentucky, December 31st 1962. His Father, Bill Cardwell is a retired coal miner and his mother Carolyn Cardwell is a homemaker. Dale is the second of three children. His older brother Bruce is the married father of two, and a graphic artist in Nashville, Tennessee. His sister Rebekah is a nurse, wife and mother of three in St. Augustine, Florida.
Carolyn recalls Dale was born during a particularly brutal winter, and went as far as wrapping her newborn in blankets and placing him on the opened door of the kitchen oven, in order to ward off the single digit temperatures and biting wind that pounded the mobile home in which they lived.
Bill and Carolyn are natives of Northeast Alabama, and soon after Dale’s birth, moved the family back to the Deep South when a coal mining job opened up south of Birmingham.
Dale’s early life revolved around church, family and sports. He became a born-again Christian at age nine when he gave his heart to Christ in a pew of Faith Baptist Church in Hueytown, Alabama. He attended grammar and middle school in Jefferson County Alabama, was president of his 4-H chapter, and won the club’s district-wide public speaking award in the state’s most populated county.
Dale learned first hand about harsh economic reality while watching his Dad go on strike and fight for better health care and wages as a member of the United Mine Workers of America, and later when his Dad’s mine closed down in 1976. Pending unemployment sent the family once again to the coal fields of Western Kentucky. Dale attended Ohio County High School in Hartford Kentucky, earned co-captain honors on his football team, and graduated with the distinction of student council class president in 1981.
Dale worked his way through college, spinning records and giving the news by way of several local radio stations throughout the Western Kentucky region.
He graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University with a double major in journalism and political science in 1981, landed his first television reporting job at WKAG in Hopkinsville, and married his high school sweetheart, Angie Saint, in Beaver Dam, Kentucky on January 18, 1986.
Dale quickly demonstrated his “nose for news” when he obtained an audio tape sent from a serviceman who later died in the crash of an army-chartered jet in route to the US from Gander, Newfoundland in December of 1986, which killed all 248 aboard. The tape, mailed to the serviceman’s fiancé’ days before the flight, told her of the service men and women’s fear of flying on what he referred to as the “rickety-old” army-chartered transportation. Dale’s story was aired on every national network and led to hearings in Washington and a thorough vetting of the military’s aviation transport policy.
Dale continued his investigative journalism at WBMG in Birmingham, Alabama, WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina, WSMV in Nashville, Tennessee and an eleven year stint as a consumer reporter and investigative journalist with WSB in Atlanta, the nation’s ninth largest television market.
Dale’s first three years at WSB gave him the opportunity to work closely with and produce stories for the premier radio and television consumer expert in the nation, Clark Howard. Clark and Dale’s investigations earned numerous awards, but more importantly, saved Georgians millions of dollars, and empowered them to “save more, spend less, become their own consumer advocate.”
Dale’s more recent investigations have led to the exposure of corruption on the part of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, the conviction of former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, the resignation of Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett, the return of public funds by Senator Zell Miller, and the termination of Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue’s abuse of government airplanes and helicopters for private benefit.
Dale lives in DeKalb County Georgia, with his wife Angie, their son Adam and daughter Jessica. Dale serves as a Deacon and substitute Sunday School teacher at Dunwoody Baptist Church. Dale’s hobbies include sports, singing with his brother Bruce in their long time gospel group, and restoring classic cars.
Memorable Dale Cardwell Investigations
July 2000 DeKalb Sheriff Sid Dorsey’s illegal misuse of County deputies.
Investigative journalist Dale Cardwell catches Sheriff Dorsey using on-duty County deputies staffing bank security jobs on behalf of the sheriff’s private security company. The investigation leads to the exposure of multiple illegal acts by the sheriff, and the exposures are key to Dorsey’s conviction on corruption charges.
March 2001 Derwin Brown Murder Investigation:
Dale Cardwell lands key interview with figure in the Derwin Brown murder investigation. The woman, who has refused to cooperate with authorities, tells Dale Cardwell that the shoot-out at Derwin Brown murder suspect Patrick Cuffy’s home, was actually the result of a drug deal gone bad. Cardwell’s exposure of Cuffy’s drug dealing provides authorities the necessary leverage to jail Cuffy and create the pressure that eventually leads to Cuffy’s cooperation with authorities. Cuffy admits that he carried out the murder of Derwin Brown on orders from his boss, Sheriff Sid Dorsey.
September 2000: Bill Campbell Investigation: Dale Cardwell, in partnership with Channel Two investigative colleague Mark Winne, exposes the Federal investigation into the gambling activities of Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. Cardwell and Winne’s stories keep the public informed as the investigation widens and eventually leads to the prosecution of more than a dozen top city officials and culminates in the former mayor’s prosecution in 2006.
April 2003: Oxendine Car Investigation:
Dale Cardwell exposes the fact that during a severe state budget crisis, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has used state funds to purchase and luxuriously appoint a Crown Victoria automobile, after the state’s Department of Administrative Services has specifically instructed him not to do so. The story is just one of an unending line of such exposures which show waste in Government and hold elected and appointed leaders accountable.
January 2004: Governor Aircraft Investigation:
Dale Cardwell exposes the unauthorized personal use of state aircraft by Governor Sonny Perdue. Cardwell’s investigation documents Perdue’s decision to bypass Atlanta in the state helicopter because his son is running late to a high school football game. Dale’s story, and subsequent exposures of misuse lead Georgia’s Attorney General to issue an order prohibiting the Governor and future Governors from using state vehicles for non-state business.
March 2004: Sheriff’s Illegal Investments Investigation:
Dale Cardwell exposes Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett’s illegal investment of seven million public dollars. The investigation exposes Barrett’s receipt of tens of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions from the private investors who received portions of the seven million dollars. In May, Barrett’s Chief Deputy Caudell Jones pled guilty to his hand in the illegal scheme. Jones is cooperating with the U.S. Attorney and the investigation is continuing.
February 2005: Politicians’ Flood Buyout Investigation:
Dale Cardwell exposes how dozens of DeKalb County homeowners who qualified for Federal flood plane buyouts were “leapfrogged” by the buyout of a local politician’s home. The public paid more than 300-hundred thousand dollars for the politician’s home, though his “buyout” score was substantially lower than dozens of deserving families who’s homes are in a perpetual flood plane. The County administration never explains its reasons.
March 2005: Fulton County Courthouse Shooting Investigation:
Dale Cardwell exposes the inexcusable security lapse that led to Fulton County courthouse shooting suspect Brian Nichols’ escape. Cardwell obtains copies notes found in Nichols’ cell, which show Nichols had been planning an escape for some time. Additionally, Cardwell, with the help of Fulton County Deputies, expose the fact Nichols had been caught with “shanks” in his shoes two days before his escape, and e-mails sent from Nichols’ mother, warning Fulton Sheriff’s officials of the likelihood of her son’s violent reaction to a guilty verdict. Even so, security measures weren’t followed that would have most likely averted the greatest tragedy in Fulton County courthouse history.
February 2006: Illegal Investment of Public Money:
Dale Cardwell exposes the 600-thousand dollar breach of public trust by the man who would become the Fulton County Sheriff’s Chief of Staff. Cardwell learns from sources that in 1999, John Crosland and his company had been awarded a 600-thousand dollar grant from Georgia’s Department of Human Services, to move mothers from welfare to work. The State’s Attorney General determines the money had been squandered by Crosland and his company, and that almost none of the money had been spent on its intended purpose. Cardwell learns the Sheriff employs Crosland as his Chief of Staff, even though the Sheriff knew of this breach of public trust. After Cardwell’s exposure, Crosland is ordered by the state to repay the money.
July 2005: Zell Miller Mansion Funds Investigation:
Dale Cardwell exposes the misuse of state tax dollars by former Governor Zell Miller. The money had been provided by Georgia citizens for the purpose of operating the Governor’s mansion. Cardwell learns that Miller had been “bankrolling” the public’s money by having private companies and special interest groups pay for functions and entertainment at the mansion.
Miller left office without the public knowing he’d pocketed more than 112-thousand “mansion” dollars. He paid it back after Dale exposed it.
September 2006: Dentist Bart Corbin Murder Investigation:
Dale Cardwell travels to Alabama and confronts the best friend of Gwinnett County Dentist and murder suspect Bart Corbin. Cardwell travels to Troy Alabama and shines the light on the key witness who supplied the gun that killed Corbin’s wife Jennifer. According to Jennifer Corbin’s family, Dale’s confrontation with Richard Wilson in Wilson’s home town, along with a well timed visit from Gwinnett County D.A. investigators, prompts Wilson to “come clean” to investigators. The break in the case seals a guilty plea on two murders from Bart Corbin and saves Georgia taxpayers more than one million dollars in trial expenses.
May 2007: Georgia Administrators “Double-Dipping”
Dale Cardwell exposes the fact that Georgia taxpayers are shelling out nearly 400-million dollars annually to state retirees who are drawing substantial state pensions, and also returning to the state tax-payer funded work force. Specifically, Dale’s investigation shows nearly one-fourth of that money is being used to pay retired school administrators to return to administration jobs, with no competition, and preventing that money from going to the places it was intended by the legislature; specifically, to bring veteran classroom teachers back to the classroom where they are needed. Dale’s exposure of the abuse prompts action from the Governor, a state audit, and planned legislative action to correct the abuse.
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