Greensboro City Attorney Confirms SBI Investigation Concerns Councilman Zack Matheny; News & Record Remains Silent

Greensboro's 'Paper of Record' has yet to report the facts to the public as early voting continues

Greensboro City Attorney Lora C. Cubbage confirmed in writing that the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating Councilman Zack Matheny in response to an ethics complaint I filed earlier this year.

Despite these confirmations, the Greensboro News & Record has not reported the story to the public, even after reporter Kevin Griffin interviewed me about the investigation on Monday, October 13, 2025.

On Friday, October 17, 2025, SBI Special Agent Chad Flowers confirmed to Public Integrity Watch that the investigation remains ongoing.

Emails;

On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM Cubbage, Lora wrote:

Mr. Hartzman,

For clarity, the complaint that you filed deals with Councilman Zack Matheny as it pertains to the City. This office does not have legal oversight of DGI, it’s board nor it’s officers. The independent investigative agency that would have the final look at anything that would be considered nefarious regarding a public official would be the SBI and this concern that you raised is already in their hands. To engage another law firm to look at these matters of your concern would be futile in that either they will find nothing of substance or they will find something of substance and say to send it to the SBI being that Councilman Matheny is a public official. That sir is already being done. I know you feel that there should be an ongoing investigation done by this office but again, if something nefarious is found it would be handed to the SBI and they already are looking into this matter.

The best course of action that our office has discussed and came to the conclusion is, to allow the highest independent investigatory agency being the SBI to handle the matter and wait for their results. They will then alert he Attorney General who initiated the action, of their findings and if there was something nefarious found will determine the next course of action.

Respectfully yours,

Lora C. Cubbage
City Attorney
City of Greensboro

From: Cubbage, Lora
Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Message from Extension…

To: George Hartzman

Mr. Hatzman,

Sir, it is our understanding that the SBI will review everything and they will make findings as to whether what they have learned has some criminal elements or not and then make recommendations on what they did find. While the SBI may not recommend any criminal procedure they may find a need for matters to be reviewed/changed/revised internally. The SBI is the highest independent investigatory agency the state has and we are going to defer first to their expertise in this area of non-profit and public official inquiries being that they have already started the process and then proceed based on their findings.

Thank you again for reaching out and I look forward to hearing from the SBI so that a clear directional path can be ascertained.

Respectfully yours,

Lora C. Cubbage
City Attorney
City of Greensboro

from: Cubbage, Lora
to: George Hartzman
date: Aug 8, 2025, 5:44 PM

subject: Re: SBI process regarding concerns

Mr. Hartzman,

From your ethics complaint you lodged several allegations to include:

1. lobbying violation, gift ban beaches - This is within the purview of the SBI to determine if there was criminal activity.

2. conflict of interest alleging personal financial benefit - This is within the purview of the SBI to determine if there was criminal activity.

While we understand your concern sir, the determination of any potential nefarious activity is in fact the hands of the SBI as your complaint is against a sitting public official. When you read the City of Greensboro Resolution 2021-172, it indicates that the City Attorney shall refer the complaint to an independent investigator selected by the City Attorney. For the matters above that are included in your complaint to this office, we choose the SBI, which is already looking at these matters and on two fronts.

While I know you feel there is no mandate to wait to launch a sister investigation, there is also no time mandates in the resolution nor language that requires dual investigations, thus we argue it makes sense legally and fiscally to wait on the SBI process to be completed to determine if there will be a need for another investigation.

Thanks.

Respectfully yours,

Lora C. Cubbage
City Attorney

The allegations in the complaint include potential lobbying violations, gift ban breaches and a conflict of interest involving personal financial benefit. Cubbage reiterated that these matters “are within the purview of the SBI to determine if there was criminal activity.”

Despite clear documentation from the City Attorney and confirmation from the SBI, the News & Record has yet to inform Greensboro residents that one of their elected councilmembers is under active state investigation.

The public deserves to know when an elected official is the subject of a state-level investigation, especially when city officials have confirmed it in writing and the matter involves potential misuse of public position or funds.

Until the SBI releases its findings, the City has deferred any internal review, with Cubbage writing that “it makes sense legally and fiscally to wait on the SBI process to be completed.”

The silence from local media only deepens the lack of public trust. Greensboro residents deserve facts, not delays.

Public Integrity Watch continues to advocate for transparency and accountability in Greensboro’s government.

Meanwhile, Matheny appears to be using taxpayer monies passed through DGI to promote his image during an election season as the Triad Business Journal remains oblivious;

Journalistic Malpractice; Greensboro News & Record’s Kevin Griffin knew the SBI interviewed Hartzman on Matheny before writing post primary election story