by Katie Orlando

DAVIDSON – MI-Connection leaders say criticisms made by N.C. Senate District 44 candidate Karen Ray last week against the Davidson and Mooresville-owned broadband company were unfounded.

Ray criticized the company for not running her attack ad against opponent N.C. Sen. Chris Carney.

Ray had been running television spots with MI-Connection for about three weeks when her campaign submitted a new commercial to Via Media, the independent firm that handles advertising on MI-Connection.

Via Media President Todd Donnely said the new spot had to go through an extended review process since it involved political criticism. Donnely said the commercial underwent standard procedure, going through legal review before it could air.

“We asked for verification, asked for something in writing saying that what she claims is true. We never said we would not run her ad,” Donnely told the MI-Connection Board of Directors at its Thursday, April 26, meeting. “I still would not run it yet, because I have not seen verification.”

Board Chairman John Venzon learned that Ray was threatening MI-Connection with a lawsuit for refusing to run her ad, and CEO David Auger was informed that Monday morning and had it run.

Ray’s ad criticizes Carney for voting to buy the bankrupt Adelphia cable system (now MI-Connection) as a Mooresville commissioner. Carney’s connection and public support of the towns’ purchase fueled Ray’s ad and criticism of MI-Connection. Ray’s campaign called Carney an executive with MI-Connection, which Auger and Carney denied.

Auger and Venzon said Ray had not returned phone calls or responded to the company running her ad.

Company reaches earnings milestone

MI-Connection reported $3.986 million in revenue between January and March, the highest earning quarter in company history. The company’s earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, an indicator of fiscal strength, was also the highest in company history for the second quarter running.

MI-Connection gained 243 customers in the third quarter.

Auger said MI-Connection’s third-quarter finances are the result of the completed transition from contracting with Bristol Virginia Utilities to local operations.