NC lawmakers change rules for mayoral election in Louisburg
WALK IN TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
>> YOU CAN ALSO APPLY ONLINE
THROUGH MID-SEPTEMBER STATE
LAWMAKERS. YOU STEPPED IN TO
CHANGE HOW A LOCAL TOWN RUNS
ITS ELECTIONS. EVEN THOUGH THE
TOWN OFFICIALS SAID THAT THEY
DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS. THE
CURRENT MAYOR OF LEWISBURG SAID
HE FEELS THE LAW IS ACTUALLY
TARGETING HIM. WRAL'S ASHLEY
PATTERSON WAS AT THE
LEGISLATIVE BUILDING TODAY
WHERE THE MAYOR AND OTHERS
DEMANDED SOME TRANSPARENCY.
THIS BILL ORIGINALLY FOCUSED
ON WAKE SURFING AND JACKSON
COUNTY. FAST FORWARD 4 MONTHS
AND NOW INCLUDES CHANGES ON
HOW TO VOTE FOR MAYOR AND THE
FRANKLIN COUNTY TOWN. THIS
CHATTER WAS CHAINS.
>> WITHOUT ANY CONSENT.
>> A LOT AS ANY CITIZEN OF
LEWISBURG. IN A LOCAL OFFICIAL.
MYSELF BEFORE THE PERSON WITH
THE MOST VOTES WOULD WIN.
THE NEW LAW SAYS A CANDIDATE
NEEDS MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTE
TO WIN. IF NO ONE GETS HALF A
VOTE, A RUNOFF COULD BE HELD.
LAWMAKERS SLIP THE CHANGE IN
JUST ONE DAY BEFORE VOTING IT
INTO LAW. IF THEY CAN.
>> COME AFTER LEWISBURG AND
CHANGE OUR ELECTIONS. THEN
WHAT'S NEXT? ANDREA WOODEN WITH
THE COUNTY'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE HUDDLED
AROUND INCUMBENT MAYOR
CHRISTOPHER NEIL CALLING FOR
TRANSPARENCY FROM LAWMAKERS.
I'M THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MALE. IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
AND THE WAY IT WAS DONE.
IN THE CASE TO ME THAT IT WAS
TARGETING.
NEAL FACES 2 OTHER OPPONENTS,
BOYD STURGES AND WILLIAM GO
TO JUNIOR. STURGIS SAYS HE
DOESN'T THINK THE CHANGES HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH RACE.
PEOPLE OUT THERE COUNT TO BE
RUN ON.
>> TRANSPARENTLY AND
CONFIDENTLY. I ALSO REACHED OUT
TO THE BILL'S SPONSOR MIKE LAP.
IT AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE
MATTHEW WINSLOW, WHO REPRESENTS
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
>> ASKING THE REASON BEHIND THE
CHANGE IN WIND WAS ADDED SO
LATE AND I HOPE THEY WILL TELL
US THEIR INTENTIONS BEHIND THIS
DESTINY. PATTERSON, WRAL NEWS.
NOW WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM
THE LAWMAKERS REGARDING OUR
QUESTIONS JUST YET. THE TOWN
ALSO SAYS
>> A RUNOFF COULD COST UP TO