Board of Education Accepts McCormick's Resignation

UPDATE: No Discussion of Immoral Conduct At Meeting

In a statement released by the Board of Education:

The Lee County School Board today released as statement that said, "This afternoon the Lee County Board of Education accepted the resignation of Dr. Jim McCormick as Superintendent of Lee County Schools effective today, June 30, 2008. The Board of Education is aware of the impact affecting the district by his sudden resignation. To that end, in consultation with the Board Attorney regarding the legal options in filling this critical vacancy, we'll meet at 5:00PM Wednesday, July 2, 2008."

It is expected that the Board will at that meeting consider its options and discuss whether to name an interim or acting superintendent and the process for making a permanent selection of a superintendent.

The Board apparently waived a 90 notice required by the employment contract.

Dr. McCormick's letter was addressed to Bill Tatum, but was delivered to the Board Attorney on 6/25/08. He asked the Board to compensate him for those benefits which he had accrued while serving Lee County Schools. These included compensation for unused vacation days and unused sick leave days. Noting that insurance plans were paid a month in advance, he asked for confirmation that those benefits would remain in effect through the month of July 2008. McCormick offered no reason for his resignation in his letter.

During a recess, Chairman Bill Tatum answered questions from the media.
(See and/or read the coverage at this link on WRAL) The Sanford Herald (Click here for The Sanford Herald website) took the unusual step of publishing a story on its web site following the meeting.

Stories claim that one school board member said there was discussion of "immoral conduct" in the closed session, a claim that was emphatically denied by Chairman Bill Tatum who said that the subject never came up--a claim confirmed by other members of the board the Dispatch contacted. They flatly denied any such discussion. The manner in which McCormick handled the matter made any such discussion irrelevant in the consideration of his resignation. The accuracy of what was discussed in the private session will be verified when the minutes of the closed session are released according to state law.

Various versions of rumors about marital misconduct have been circulated within the county, especially since a local radio station began reporting them last Thursday. Provisions of state law and of the Superintendent's contract could have forced the board to have proven some of the allegations and/or paid a huge financial settlement. The manner in which the situation was handled avoided an arduous process that could have proceeded for months or cost the county $100,000's in settlement fees.

No Public Comments At Commissioners' Meeting

Commissioners Have Heard Enough About Deputies

Cancel your plans to go speak up for adding those two deputies at 5:30. The commissioner's don't want the room full of advocates for better law enforcement. Go to see Pat McCory at the free pancake supper at 6:00 pm at the VFW or watch TV for latest on school superintendent.

Herald Joins Speculation on McCormick's Future

Media Coverage Could Create Potential Problems

There was plenty of smoke on the issue of Jim McCormick's future with the Lee County School system by week's end. Most all of it ended up on the front page of the Sanford Herald's Sunday Edition. (click here for link that will work through Monday only). The article is based on "sources close to the school district. Multiple sources — all of whom wished to speak on the condition of anonym­ity."

The e-Lee Dispatch sometimes reports on that basis. And in this case there was some circumstantial evidence like the moving of the time of the Board of Education meeting that would seem to point to something going on. Sometimes we elect to hold posts so that the posts themselves do not become part of the story. (Click here to see editor's note.)

This much is clear from a careful parsing of the article. Jim McCormick is still Superintendent of Lee County Schools. As of today, there has been no change in his employment status. Whether he is at this time tomorrow may well turn out to be a different story.

Suppose, and this is speculation, that he decided on his own that for whatever reasons to resign. Perhaps he did so because he thought it best for the schools or to protect his privacy and that of others. The story is much bigger than that now. Media attention for "immoral conduct" raises questions about a wide range of conduct--from conduct that some people might not consider immoral to conduct that would universally disgust the community. One might expect that from an "electronic source" tied to a local interest group. The Herald, however, should have left the term " immoral conduct" alone or gone all the way and spelled it out.

The manner in which this story has been handled may however, draw the cameras from WRAL or WTVD so there should be plenty of sources to hear different slants on the story. Maybe they will see the "Smokin' Joes" sign and decide to give the local economy a boost while they are in town. There may yet be some good in all this mess.

The county commissioners are meeting at 5:30 to adopt a budget with or without the sheriff's two additional patrol deputies. That story may not be the biggest of the day but it could last until November.

Quiggle's Motion Full Of Irony For Kelly

Democrat's Choice For District II Vacancy Sets Up Dilemma For Kelly

It was Jamie Kelly that nominated John Quiggle to take the District II seat over Harry Undy, the nominee of the Republican Party. It was also John Quiggle who noted that there was $120,000 of unallocated funds in the county manager's budget and moved to give the sheriff the two patrol deputies he has said he needs to protect the county. Now Kelly returns from vacation with a megaton blast on the Sanford Herald's editorial page because the wording of Quiggle's motion made it so clear that the unanimous negative vote by the democrat commissioners present was not because the county could not afford the deputies. Although not a candidate himself, any Kelly chairmanship will require that the democrats retain control of the commission. Having not been at the meeting, he is the one democrat best equipped to dig them out of the hole.

Decision goes against campaign promises

There is a lot we support about this proposed budget, and we’re pleased with County Manager John Crumpton’s plan, which does not include a tax increase for local prop­erty owners. According to our report Tuesday, the $ 120,000 cut from the EDC was not directed toward any other part of the county’s budget. There are people who believe this money would be better served protect­ing the public.

These commissioners dis­agreed, despite what they said publicly during the election cycle.

It’s up to you, the voter.

In fairness to Jamie Kelly, when he first starting pushing John Quiggle to serve in the vacancy created when Kirk Smith resigned the District II seat, there was no officially recognized Republican Party in Lee County. Failure of Richard Littiken to follow the state's plan of organization had left the democrat members of the commission a clear shot at naming their choice to the vacancy. Only at the eleventh hour was the Lee County Republican Party organized in time to nominate Harry Undy, veteran leader of organizations in the Carolina Trace Community.

Despite Undy's qualifications, Kelly and his colleagues on the board were determined to proceed with school board member John Quiggle. Without question, John Quiggle was qualified to be a commissioner, but why the controversial decision to elect him rather than Undy?

He was never included in the four commissioner clique led by Robert Reives. Quiggle would have been a logical replacement for Linda Shook's role as liaison with the Board of Education since she was already at odds with Board of Education as the commisioners' representative to that board. Replacing her with Quiggle who had just left that board was an opportunity to lessen tensions between the two boards at a time they were under pressure about Lee Senior High School, but the democrats passed on that. Sources have confirmed that there was discussion that would allow Jamie Kelly to end Reives' reign by putting together a new four person majority consisting of himself, Brown, Quiggle, and Lemmond but failed because of Lemmond's fear of Reives.

Whatever the reason, Kelly and the democrats put Quiggle on the board and then didn't put that choice to good use nor did the county GOP fully embrace. Then, bamm! Quiggle ended up landing the biggest punch of the year for Republican commissioner candidates with his well worded and timed motion to add the two deputies. How ironic!

Jail Inmate Death A Tragedy

Sheriff Carter Pro-Active On Inmate Health Care

No matter what the circumstances, it is a tragedy when anyone dies. Everyone has family and friends who grieve their loss almost without regard to their religious faith. An in­mate at the Lee County Jail, Anthony Jabbar Fox, 35, of 309 Maple Ave, collapsed and died early Thursday morn­ing.

Sheriff Carter said officials don’t know a cause of death and that an autopsy was pending, but added that it appeared to result from some type of medi­cal condition. As the recent death of Tim Russett in an NBC studio showed, regardless of station in life or location, one can pass from this earth suddenly and without warning. The State Bureau of Investigation is investi­gating the circumstances surrounding Fox’s death, as is protocol anytime a jail inmate dies in cus­tody, and the public may learn more of the particulars of the death.

What Carter has done to improve the situation regarding the health care of inmates has received little attention. When he took office, medical assistance was being rendered by a health department nurse, medical costs for physician and hospital care of inmates were spiraling out of control, and the county government was solely liable for any negligence that might be claimed in today's world in which trial lawyers advertise for business.

After extensive research, he recommended, and the commissioners approved, outsourcing the management of inmate medical care--a growing trend in the state. Outsourcing makes available personnel and procedures specialized for inmates and reduces the county's liability in the event of legal action. A contract for health care management by Southern Health Partners of Charlotte (click here to learn about the company) began June 1, 2007.

Sheriff Carter requsted 4 additional jailers from the county commissioners, but the current budget provides for 1.

New Blood Bringing Life To Lee GOP

As Local GOP Struggles With Legacy of In-Fighting, New Players Take Field

McCory's Monday's Visit A Coup of YR President

Candidates for governor don't typically spend much time raising money for local parties. Their focus has to be on raising as much money as they can for their own campaign. Yet Charlotte Mayor Pat Mc Crory, the Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina, will speak to local Republicans Monday at a pancake supper fund raiser at 6 p.m. Monday, June 30. The event will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 5631 on Webb Street in Sanford. The pancake supper is free, and funds will be raised in the form of donations.

The event has almost single handedly been organized by Jay Calendine. Calendine is both President of the new Lee County Young Republicans and Finance Committee Chairman of the County GOP. Yet it was a personal contact of Calendine through his YR role that convinced the McCrory campaign to do this event and observers have noted that the work of organizing the event has been led mostly by Young Republicans who have had success involving older Republicans as well in the planning. One committee assigned by Richard Littiken charged with publicity has not done a stellar job. Calendine is advertising the event mostly by chain email. Those who know people who may be interested in meeting McCory should let them know.

Calendine, 30, is a Lee County native and a graduate of Lee Christian School. After returning from Iraq, he saw the need for additional leadership and began work on a Young Republican Chapter. The age group is 18-40. Of particular note is that half of the registered Republicans in Lee County fall into that demographic. Calendine can be reached at 919-698-9968 or leecountyyr@gmail.com.

Sheriff "Upset" That Commissioners Did Not Fund Deputies

Tracy Carter Reminds People Election Coming Up.

Sheriff Tracy Carter's reaction to the commissioner's failure to fund the two additional patrol deputies was discussed on Rant, Billy Liggett's radio show during the 8:30 segment of the 8 to 9 am Wednesday morning show on 90.5 FM, WDDC. For late risers and those who cannot get the station, here are the highlights, The entire broadcast is available from the Rant web site. (Click here to view the blog site or here to download the MP3 portion. The show is quite entertaining. Sheriff Carter comes in about 34 mins into the show if you need to slide the marker to find that portion only..)

Pointedly reminding some commissioners that they had run their primary campaigns on support of law enforcement, Sheriff Tracy Carter told listeners he was "disappointed and upset" that the commissioners had failed to use $120,000 that was not used in the budget to fund his request for 2 additional patrol deputies. He said that he felt that despite having lowered last year's crime rate, that his office was seeing a serious increase in crime--especially home invasions--due to the economy. He made it clear that while he had been told to prioritize positions, it was with the assumption money could not be found in the budget to meet more of his request. "I want to make it clear that I need those two positions," he said. The sheriff said it was his job to tell the commissioners what was needed and he did not play the game of asking for more than he needed expecting to get less.

He encouraged listeners to contact commissioners to request that they fund the 2 positions at their final budget meeting on June 30, and Liggett gave the numbers for the commissioners. (click here for the contact information.) He also said that he encouraged people to pay attention because "We do have an election coming up in the fall." Although he declined to say that the commissioner's actions were politically motivated and said relations had generally been good with the board, this was a clear signal that the votes against the deputies would be fair game in the fall election. "I don't work for the county manager or the commissioners. I work for the people."

This much is absolutely clear. He feels his position on the deputies was misrepresented by the county manager and commissioners. "In no way have I ever said that I did not need those two positions."

Analysis

Incumbent commissioners Jerry Lemmond, who heavily advertised his support of law enforcement, and Ed Paschal have a lot to think about. The two could vote with commissioners Shook and Quiggle to amend the budget ordinance to add the patrol deputies. Of course, Lemmond would have to obtain Robert Reives permission. Democrat candidate Richard Hayes, who also heavily advertised his support of law enforcement, can only hope that when Commissioner Jamie Kelly returns from vacation (Kelly was not present to vote on the motion by John Quiggle to fund the two positions from $120,000 of unallocated money in the budget), Kelly will be able to get his colleagues to see the potential political risks of their actions. Just whether or not the sheriff intends to heavily involve himself in the election is not clear. What is clear is he will not sit back and let anyone hide behind a misrepresentation of his position.