Love' Bill Binds Commissioners To Party's Recommendation

Bill Gives Members Reason to Participate in Local Conventions

Veteran Representative Jimmy Love has introduced House Bill 435. This bill would require that vacancies to the board of commissioners and in the office of sheriff would be recommended by the party executive committee and then must be appointed. Such a law is already on the books for 45 other NC counties. A law is already on the books that makes the same requirement for Registers Of Deeds.

Under rules in both parties, executive committee members are barred from active roles in primary campaigns giving them less influence on the direction of the philosophy and positions of candidates for office which they are bound to support when nominated. Passage of Love's bill would make a membership truly important if a vacancy occurred. This may give Republicans more reason to turn out Monday night (March 30) and Democrats at their April convention.

The bill might have avoided much controversy in the filling of the District 2 seat originally held by Amy Stevens. In the first go round, Richard Littiken reported the Lee County Republican Executive Committee nominated Kirk Smith. Smith frequently wrote letters to the editor strongly supporting conservative views with constitutional arguments. Commissioner Jamie Kelly nominated retired Broadway police chief George Bates, but Bates withdrew at the last minute and Smith was elected.

Ironically, according to an article by Herald reporter, Gordon Anderson, in early September, at the time of Smith's recommendation, Lee County had no official Republican Party recognized by the state GOP. Littiken claimed it was a matter of paperwork, but actually he had failed to conduct a convention in March as required under party rules. With the sudden departure of Kirk Smith at a time while their was no recognized Republican party, Kelly recommended John Quiggle, a Republican serving on the school board. This motivated local and state officials to call a convention allowing the GOP executive committee to properly recommend Harry Undy, a individual long active in Carolina Trace organizations. Despite the GOP efforts, the commissioners passed over Undy and selected Quiggle.

According to Rep. Love, the bill will not have any difficulty being passed.