Local News - May 2002

Commissioners reject election change

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

May 22, 2002 - The Board of Education will continue to hold district elections, at least until 2004.

Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday against a proposed change from district to at-large elections for the 2002 election.

Citizens and past school board members filled the Commissioner’s Room, and a few spoke out during the public comment part of the meeting.

Robin Brown, a Board of Education member from 1996-2000, voiced her concerns for the children affected, calling the effort a “political ploy” by school board members.

“I am very much against this political fiasco,” Brown said.

Betty Lawing, who served on the school board for 20 years, said she personally went to the Board of Elections many times, concerned about how elections were held.

“I was told over and over, ‘When something isn’t broken, don’t fix it,’” Lawing said.

The issue was “swept under the table,” according to Lawing.

“If it was no good then, why is it so good now?” Lawing said.

She expressed concern over how quickly the school board made its vote.

“I am opposed to this hastily concocted effort to change voting law,” Lawing said.

She said the change would affect the entire city. Some children would not be represented, Lawing said, and suggested the board think about redistricting.

 “I’d like to see everyone have a chance to work on this and make a plan,” she said.

Carol Mitchem said community members are more comfortable approaching district representatives about problems.

“The people of Lincoln County want to be represented,” Mitchem said. “I’m speaking for the people of Lincoln County.”

David Black, school board attorney, told commissioners that the problem must be confronted.

“It’s a very complicated issue to move from where we are to where we want to be,” he said.  “We feel like it is broke now.”

Black explained the current method of election: Lincoln’s five townships — Catawba Springs, Howards Creek, Ironton, Lincolnton and North Brook — are represented by a board member. In addition to those five, there is one member who represents Lincolnton outside-city-limits and one member who is elected at large.

Although the six board members each represent a specific district, they are elected by voters county-wide.

In 1982, the Supreme Court rendered this system illegal. However, no changes were made in Lincoln County.

The school board voted May 13 to change the method of election from district to at-large.

There are three seats coming up in the 2002 election, and Black proposed that those seats be run for at-large and be voted on at-large.

“We want to confront it (the issue) now, before any challenge comes,” Black said.

County Attorney Jeff Taylor  said the worst case scenario if the method of elections remains the same would be a court situation.

“It’s just a coin toss at this point for this board,” he said. “State law has not been followed.”

Commissioner Tom Anderson expressed concern over the speediness with which the issue has moved.

“It seems to me we’re being asked to move fairly quickly,” Anderson said. “I haven’t had enough time to study this.”

He suggested that commissioners immediately begin working with the school board to devise a solution.

“It seems like we’re trying to get in eight days something that’s been going on for 20 years,” Commissioner Beth Saine said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to continue the matter and work on it for the 2004 election.

Citizens who attended the meeting were pleased with the decision.

“This is a move in the right direction for the children of Lincoln County,” Brown said.

Lawing said she was excited about the decision.

“It was an underhanded move by some people,” Lawing said.

Mitchem also said the board made the right decision.

“This is exactly the way it should be,” he said. “They need to look it over and decide what they should do.”

Jean Dellinger, school board chairwoman, said she is now concerned with the possibilities of challenges to the decision.

“I have always believed and still believe that we have the best method of representation for board members,” she said. “However, I don’t want to do something that is against the Constitution of North Carolina.”

Dellinger also said some of the comments made since the issue came up have shocked and hurt her.

“It still puzzles me how this was a political move,” she said. “It hurts me to know that anyone despises me that much. I have always looked at the needs of the county.

“There have been a lot of time and funds spent on this issue. It’s been very frustrating. Our main focus should always be on our children.”

Board member Tony Jenkins said he has mixed emotions about the decision.

“I’m for district representation,” Jenkins said. “But I can’t go against the law. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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