|
Racism, Mecklenburg Democrats & the Sheriff's race
“In those counties where
the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief
deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then
the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform
all the duties of the sheriff until the county
commissioners appoint some person to fill the
unexpired term.” – NCGS 162.5
Democrat party 'plan of Organization'
A
group of folks (mostly of one race) get together to
select a new candidate. They take applications for
the job but it is clear that one candidate (of a
different race) is the most qualified, has the most
experience and proven abilities. The other
candidate, matching the race of a majority of the
group, has questionable ethics, bad financial
planning and no relevant experience that would
qualify him for the job.
In
1948, the group of folks were white southern
'cracker' Democrats passing over a more qualified
Black candidate to select the 'good ol boy' white
bubba.
In
2007, the group of folks was Black inner-city
Democrats, passing over the only qualified candidate
because he was white to select the Black dude.
Both are examples of Racism.
What the local Mecklenburg County Democrat Party did
was engage in exactly same behavior that Black
leaders decried during the Civil Rights era of the
60's.
Instead of picking
someone based on the
'content of
their character'
they determined to pick a candidate based on
'the color
of his skin'.
Dr. M. L. King, Jr. would not be pleased.
The
difference between the 60's rhetoric and today is
that in the 60's folks believed it. Today, it is
just some aging shrill verbiage used to justify any
and all actions the Democrats (or Black Democrats)
deem to be offensive to their view of the world (and
I am sure I will garner some more hate mail for
writing this).
The
ONLY qualified Democrat candidate for Sheriff was
Chipp Bailey. Every County Commission Democrat
(Black and White) endorsed Chipp. The Democrat
Executive Committee in an appeal solely to racism
ignored the best qualified candidate and
instead selected a political hack because his
skin pigmentation was acceptably dark.
The good news for Republicans is that Mr. Mackey
will be easy to beat in 2010. The Democrats have
also set up a process where the person running for
Sheriff need not be a professional but rather
anybody with enough name ID and political skills.
For example, a sitting County Commissioner or City
Councilperson could run and win making Mackey the
issue.
The
Bad news for Mecklenburg County is that a party
stooge will be in charge of the inmates in the
Mecklenburg County jail and plans to gut the illegal
immigration detention program like a fish.
If
a white group ignores the best qualified Black
candidate to elect a white person - Black leaders
call that 'racism'.
When the local Democrats and Black leaders engage in
racism, what do they call it? 'Democracy in Action'.
The equivalent would be the white good ol’ boys
calling lynching ‘Democracy’ because a majority
wanted to do it.
According to the County Attorney, there is no time
limit on the Commission that determines when we have
to act on the racist decision of the local Democrat
EC. The law also says that the Commission can
select the Chief Deputy (or senior Deputy) to serve
as 'acting Sheriff' (though he would have to want
the job and after what he has been through with his
own party and he may not). If he didn’t want it, the
next person in line below Chipp would be the 'Senior
Deputy' (a Black Female I understand). Either would
be eligible to remain as ‘acting Sheriff’.
In
short, the County Commissioners could tacitly
over-ride the racist decision of the Democrat EC by
determining that the process was illicit, that
Mackey isn't qualified, or that one of the
candidates wasn't allowed access.
Either way - The elected Democrats on the County
Commission (Parks Helms, Jennifer Roberts, Dumont
Clarke, Val Woodard and Norman Mitchell) have to
all agree to back a candidate (Mackey) that two
days ago they said was unqualified for the job.
If
they stand by their convictions, Mackey won't get
their votes. If the cave in to the racist rabble
within their own party that allowed the process to
produce this result then Mackey will be Sheriff but
his reign will be short.
The
decision on whether to appoint an unqualified
individual selected on the basis of racism rests
with one Democrat on the County Commission.
If
four GOP vote against Mackey and one Democrat joins,
a competent person stays 'acting Sheriff'.
From:
Marvin A. Bethune [mailto:mbethune@rbcwb.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 2:05 PM
To: 'William F. James, Jr.'
Cc: 'Parks Helms'; 'Jennifer Watson Roberts';
dan@danramirez.com; karen.bentley@mecklenburgcountync.gov;
'Norman Mitchell'; 2woodard@bellsouth.net; 'Dumont
Clarke'; 'Dan Bishop'; 'Jones, Harry L.'; 'Paige,
Janice'; Sandra Bisanar
Subject: Vacancy in office of Sheriff
Bill,
I have
the Democratic Plan of Organization from the State
Democratic Party web site (see attached) which I
understand from a friend of mine sets out the
procedure for organizing a precinct, but without
the necessary additional knowledge of which
precincts were organized when and how, that
document does not answer the question you want
answered. Right now, under Board policy, without
authorization from either the County Manager or the
Board, I do not have the authority to do the
extensive research (nor do I even have the resources
to undertake the complex and very time consuming
factual determination as to which of the precincts
were properly organized and which were not, even if
so authorized).
Right
now I believe that the Board has no choice other
than to let the process continue, and then I can
help the Board evaluate it's options. Once all the
facts become publicly known, at least to the
greatest extent possible, I will be prepared to
consult with the Board in closed session and outline
what I believe the Board's options are
It is
interesting to note that the relevant statute (GS
162-5.1-see below) does not set a deadline for the
Board of Commissioners to vote on filling a vacancy,
so I believe that there will be adequate time for
the Board to consider its options after the
Democratic Executive Committee makes its
recommendation. As noted in this statute:
"In those counties where
the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief
deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then
the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform
all the duties of the sheriff until the
county commissioners appoint some person to fill the
unexpired term." (emphasis added)
This
statute is to be contrasted to GS 162-5, which is
applicable in some other counties, which
indicates that the board of commissioners is to fill
the vacancy at "the
first meeting of the county commissioners next
succeeding such vacancy".
However,
even this statute indicates that
"If the board should fail
to fill such vacancy"
the coroner, or chief
deputy, is to discharge the duties of sheriff
"until" the board fills the vacancy.
I will
continue to stay informed about this issue and look
forward to consulting with the Board in closed
session after the County Executive Committee of the
Democratic Party has acted.
Marvin A. Bethune
Mecklenburg County Attorney
(O) (704) 377-1634
(FAX) (704) 342-3308
mbethune@rbcwb.com
§ 162
5.1. Vacancy filled in certain counties; duties
performed by coroner or chief deputy.
If any vacancy occurs in
the office of sheriff, the coroner of the county
shall execute all process directed to the sheriff
until the board shall elect a sheriff to supply the
vacancy for the residue of the term, who shall
possess the same qualifications, enter into the same
bond, and be subject to removal, as the sheriff
regularly elected. If the sheriff were elected as a
nominee of a political party, the board of
commissioners shall consult the county executive
committee of that political party before filling the
vacancy, and shall elect the person recommended by
the county executive committee of that party, if the
party makes a recommendation within 30 days of the
occurrence of the vacancy. If the board should fail
to fill such vacancy, the coroner shall continue to
discharge the duties of sheriff until it shall be
filled.
In those counties where
the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief
deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then
the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform
all the duties of the sheriff until the county
commissioners appoint some person to fill the
unexpired term. In all counties the regular deputy
sheriffs shall, during the interim of the vacancy,
continue to perform their duties with full
authority.
This section shall apply
only in the following counties: Alamance, Alexander,
Alleghany, Avery, Beaufort, Brunswick, Buncombe,
Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Cherokee, Clay,
Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Edgecombe, Forsyth,
Gaston, Graham, Guilford, Haywood, Henderson, Hyde,
Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg,
Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Polk, Randolph,
Richmond, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Stanly,
Stokes, Surry, Transylvania, Wake, and Yancey.
(1981, c. 763, ss. 10,
14; c. 830; 1983, c. 670, s. 2; 1987, c. 196, s. 3;
1989, c. 83; c. 497, s. 1; 1991, c. 15, s. 1; c.
558, s. 2; 2001 257, s. 2; 2003 39, s. 1; 2003 90,
s. 1.)
§ 162 5. Vacancy filled;
duties performed by coroner or chief deputy.
If any vacancy occurs in
the office of sheriff, the coroner of the county
shall execute all process directed to the sheriff
until the first meeting of the county commissioners
next succeeding such vacancy, when the board shall
elect a sheriff to supply the vacancy for the
residue of the term, who shall possess the same
qualifications, enter into the same bond, and be
subject to removal, as the sheriff regularly
elected. If the board should fail to fill such
vacancy, the coroner shall continue to discharge the
duties of sheriff until it shall be filled.
In those counties where
the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief
deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then
the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform
all the duties of the sheriff until the county
commissioners appoint some person to fill the
unexpired term. In all counties the regular deputy
sheriffs shall, during the interim of the vacancy,
continue to perform their duties with full
authority.
(1829, c. 5, s. 8; R.S.,
c. 109, s. 11; R.C., c. 105, s. 11; Code, s. 2071;
Rev., s. 2811; C.S., s. 3929; 1973, c. 74; 1983, c.
670, s. 2.)
This message is intended
only for the use of the addressee(s) and may contain
information that is PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL,
and/or may contain ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT. If you are
not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that any dissemination of this communication is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this
communication in error, please erase all copies of
the message and any attachments and notify me
immediately. Thank you.
|
