Zack Matheny voting for Samet Contract while CEO Arthur Samet Sat on DGI's Board
On June 17, 2025, Zack Matheny voted for "I.5 2025–466 Resolution to Approve Contract for Fire Station 8 Renovation for $5,188,237 with Samet Corporation".
Arthur Samet, CEO of Samet Corporation, sits on the Board of Directors of DGI, where he holds authority to vote on Zack Matheny’s salary and employment. Samet Corporation is also a financial sponsor of DGI, having contributed $2,500–$4,999 as a “Silver Partner.” Samet Corporation, through its sponsorship and board membership, appears to have a privileged relationship with DGI leadership and potential inside access to city decision-makers, particularly Matheny.
This creates a fiduciary entanglement; Arthur Samet’s business both funds and governs Matheny’s employer while also seeking and receiving public contracts from a Council on which Matheny votes.
Records show that public funds were used by Matheny for at least meals and interactions with Arthur Samet, blurring the line between personal networking, political influence and official duties.
This raises questions about preferential treatment, especially given that Samet Corporation has been awarded multiple city contracts while its CEO sits on the board of the same nonprofit headed by a sitting councilman.
Matheny, as both CEO of DGI and Councilman, is in a position to influence the flow of taxpayer money to organizations where he holds executive power and to contractors (like Samet) that support and help govern DGI.
This creates a textbook conflict of interest under North Carolina law, which prohibits public officials from participating in matters involving “official actions in which they may have a financial interest” (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-234; § 160A-75).
Samet Corporation, through its sponsorship and board membership, appears to have a privileged relationship with DGI leadership and potential inside access to city decision-makers, particularly Matheny.
North Carolina law (N.C.G.S. § 160A-75 and § 14-234) prohibits council members from voting on contracts in which they have any direct or indirect financial interest.
G.S. 160D-109 expands the scope of prohibited voting to include not just direct financial interests but also situations where the official has a close familial, business or other associational relationship with the applicant, like Arthur Samet, a Matheny political donor who sits on the boards of DGI.
Greensboro’s Code of Ethics similarly requires council members to avoid even the appearance of impropriety or undue influence, particularly where public funds are involved.
An "associational conflict" arises when a municipal official has a close personal, business, or organizational tie to someone with a pending application or business before the board, regardless of whether the official has a direct financial stake.
Given these facts, Matheny’s vote for the Samet Corporation contract, while its CEO sits on the board of Matheny’s own employer, helps determine his pay, and financially supports the organization he runs, crosses well beyond the “appearance” threshold and into the realm of an actual associational conflict of interest under state law and local ethics rules.
This is precisely the sort of entanglement N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-234, 160A-75, and 160D-109 were designed to prevent: a public official participating in official action where personal and organizational loyalties create a reasonable inference of bias or preferential treatment.
Despite these clear conflict concerns, Deputy City Attorney Tony Baker advised that nothing would prevent Matheny from voting. The guidance was issued shortly before Baker’s subsequent resignation from his position.
By failing to recuse himself, Matheny undermined public trust, exposed the City to legal and reputational risk, and reinforced perceptions that insider relationships, rather than merit, drive the allocation of taxpayer-funded contracts in Greensboro.
DGI Board Members from released meeting minutes not listed on the website;
Adrian Smith; Board Treasurer; Was listed as 2024-25 Chair until removed from website
Tracy Myers; Board Past Chair
Damion Moore; Dames Chicken and Waffles
Lonnie Cockerham; NC A&T
Kimberly Osbourne; UNCG
Leigh Williams; Greensboro Downtown Residents Association
Andy Zimmerman; AZ Development, LLC
Marsh Prause; Attorney at Allman Spry Davis Leggett & Crumpler, P.A.
Taiwo Jayeobe; Former City of Greensboro Manager
Trey Davis; Current City of Greensboro Manager
LaDaniel “Danny” Gatling II; Guilford College?
Kimberly Osborne; UNCG
Lori Poag; Voices for Healthy Kids
Christy Myatt; The Carroll Family Office
Zack Matheny extended invitations to DGI board members on March 26, 2025, for an exclusive suite event at the Greensboro Grasshoppers opening baseball game on Friday, April 4th, including Arthur Samet. The invitation included food, beverages, and premium seating, funded by DGI, which receives taxpayer money from the City of Greensboro.
DGI’s contract with the City of Greensboro explicitly prohibits the use of public funds for ineligible activities such as entertainment, travel, meals and personal development.
DGI’s expenditures on a Grasshoppers Suite potentially constitute violations of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-90 (embezzlement of public funds) and the IRS Private Benefit Doctrine for 501(c)(6) organizations.
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