For the past two months citizens have been asking where's the democratic party's support for the democratic nominee. Phones calls from concerned citizens have been made to the Democratic Chair, Chris Boykin to no avail. Even visits to the office yielded unfruitful. He was either conveniently not in the office or in the office but, "too busy to be bothered."
So here we are now and the request for his resignation on the table. It's about damn time. ENOUGH is ENOUGH already. The local democratic party needs an overhaul and an oversight committee to oversee that happens. Soon and very soon.
Extending the benefit of the doubt to the democratic party chair to do the right thing for the right reason at the right time has EXPIRED.
It was never his intention. Too many conflicts of interest. Chris Boykin WCSD. Chris Boykin campaign manager for exiting Sheriff Wayne Gay. Chris Boykin backer of John Farmer current challenger for the Sheriff's race. And you wanted to believe this man had the ability to be objective in his position as democratic chair for the democratic nominee and we're talking Calvin Woodard. . .Hello... D'uh!
Resignation demanded - Sheriff's race takes another strange turn
Wilson County Democratic Sheriff's candidate Calvin Woodard got some long-awaited support from the Democratic Party Thursday evening. Gwen Wilkins, chairwoman of the 1st Congressional District of the N.C. Democratic Party, traveled to Wilson County to give Woodard a check for $250, and to tell him that the party is supporting him.
She also revealed Thursday she's asked for the resignation of Chris Boykin, Wilson County's Democratic Party chairman, saying as chairman he's not supporting the Democratic nominee for sheriff. Boykin didn't return numerous phone messages seeking comment.
Wilkins' area covers 23 counties in Eastern North Carolina. Wilson County is covered by both the first and third congressional districts in the Democratic Party. Alicia Davis, regional field director for the N.C. Democratic Party, said this issue is "on our radar."
The Race: Woodard defeated Sheriff Wayne Gay in the Democratic Primary in May. John Farmer, retired major, has since put his hat in the ring as an unaffiliated candidate for sheriff, setting up a two-person race in the November election.
Boykin is a longtime deputy at the sheriff's office and serves as a major.
Boykin has not publicly announced who he supports in the general election, and that has some Democrats concerned about party leadership in Wilson County.
The Party concerns: "We don't have a structure," said Frank Emory, a longtime Wilson County Democrat and chairman of the Wilson County Board of Commissioners. "I haven't talked to him (Boykin), but I've heard he is going to resign and that he is supporting John Farmer."
Emory said it isn't wrong for Boykin to support the candidate of his choice. But as the party chairman he can only support the Democratic candidate. Boykin is in his fourth term as local chairman.
Emory said the Democratic Party in Wilson is not functioning as it should right now. "We have no direction from the top," Emory said. "I am not aware that we have ever had a situation like this before."
Emory said when a candidate wins the primary, that candidate deserves the party's support. "This could cripple us for years to come," Emory said.
The District official speaks:Wilkins said she has never seen a situation where a chairman did not support a candidate. That's why she sent Boykin a registered letter asking him to resign as chair.
"I have not spoken with Mr. Boykin," Wilkins said. "I, myself, did a letter myself as the chair of the first congressional district. I can not speak for the third congressional district chair, which is where Chris Boykin falls under. But because Wilson County is one of my counties I did send Mr. Boykin a letter with my concern."
Chris Hardee, third congressional district chair, had no comment Thursday night, instead referring all questions to state Democratic public relations officials.
Wilkins said she hopes Boykin "does the right thing" and this situation goes no further. Wilkins said according to the North Carolina Party Plan of Organization, a county chairman not supporting the Democratic candidate is reason enough to remove him or her.
Grounds for removal state, "Any officer of committee member of the Democratic Party at any level, including precinct, the county, the congressional district, the prosecutorial district, the state senatorial district, the state house of representatives district, the state executive committee, the state executive council or any committee, subcommittee, or council thereof, who directly or indirectly, gives support to, aids or helps any opposing political party or candidate of any opposing party, or who refuses or fails to perform his or her duties .... may be removed from office."
Nominee's Reaction: Woodard said he has heard from former Gov. Jim Hunt, U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield and Emory, all Democrats who said they are supporting him. "Many people have called me and said they support me," Woodard said. "I am not surprised at how things have turned out in the Democratic Party (in Wilson). But right now I need to show the people of Wilson that I am on their side. I will give them a sheriff's office that is transparent and an open door for all citizens."
Farmer said: "No matter which party you belong to, you can vote for who you feel is the most qualified candidate."
Emory said he expects Butterfield to be in Wilson this weekend. He intends to talk to Butterfield and to Hunt about the future direction of Wilson's Democratic Party. "This weekend I will see if we can get something moving party-wise," Emory said. "I had no idea our party could get tied up like this. We will have to talk about how we can move forward from here."
* Photo and Article written appeared in the Wilson Times. Staff Writer Janet Conner-Knox
5 comments:
Just another example of a member of WCSD having a chance to do the right thing and failing to do so. They have so many scandles their i is sicking. Maybe when Woodard wins the first thing he ccleans up his the WCSD. Starting with the Majors, Captians and Detectives. Their is wher 95% of the problem lies.
In the paper Hunt said in about 2 to 3 weeks it'll all work itself out and Boykin's gonna resign. RESIGN NOW and go on. WHY WAIT 3 weeks what you trying to pull off now by waiting 3 weeks... YOUR DONE.
Bev Perdue is cleaning up stuff write her and tell her about the WCSD and the DEM party antics here!
THE MORE I HEAR AND READ ABOUT THE WCSD THE MORE I BELIEVE THE STORIES OF CORRUPTION, SEX SCANDLES AND COVER UPS. IF YOU LOOK HOW GAY BEHAVED WHEN HE LOST, FARMER RESIGNS OR RETIRES, AND NOW THIS MESS OVER BOYKIN. WHAT IS HIS REASON FOR BEHAVING THIS WAY? IT IS JUST DRAWING MORE NEGATIVE IMPRESSION FOR THE WCSD. NOW WE KEEP HEARING RUMORS OF SEX ON THE JOB, COVER UPS, IT JUST GETS WORSE AND WORSE. THIS USALLY HAPPENS IN A ELECTION YEAR. PEOPLE KNOW HE IS ON HIS WAY OUT, SO SCRETS PEOPLE WERE TO AFRAID TO SPEAK OF ARE NOW COMING TO SURFACE.
OTHERS HAAVE SAID IT ON HERE AND I AGREE, OTHER PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS, STATE AAND CITY HOLD THEIR EMLOYEES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. NOT HERE, LOOK AT GAY'S BEHAVIOR. NOW BOYKIN. THAT IS NOT COUNTING THE ALGEDGED INCENTS OF MISCONDUT THAT SUPPOSEDLY WAS SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. BUT IT SEEMS EVERY DAY THRUTH IS LEAKING OUT. GAY'S ACTIONNS AFTER THE ELECTION IS PUBLIC RECORD. BOYKIN'S ACTIONS TO THIS POINT IN FAILING TO SUPPORT HIS PARTY'S CANDIDATE IS PUBLIC RECORD. THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A SCANDLE IN THE DETECTIVE'S BUILDING THAT WAS COVERED UP ACCORDING TO STORIES BEGING TO LEAK OUT. THIS IS A ELECTION YEAR. WE HAVE AN INCUMBENT WHO WAS VOTED OUT. THE NEXT FEW WEEKS A LOT MORE TRUTHS WILL SURFACE. WHETHER FARMER IS OUR NEXT SHERIFF OR WOODARD, WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THE WCSD CANNOT OPERATE LIKE IT HAS IN THE PAST. THE PUBLIC READS THESE PAGES, PEOPLE TALK AND WE HEAR STORIES OF THINGS SUPPOSEDLY THAT HAS HAPPENED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A HOUSE CLEANING, IF POEPLE VIOLATED POLICY OR PROCEDURE, THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IF WE FIND OUT LATER THINGS DID HAPPEN AND NOTHING WAS DONE IT WILL JUST MAKE THE WCSD PUBLIC IMAGE EVEN WORSE. HOPEFULLY OUR NEXT SHERIFF WILL STEP AND CLEAN UP OUR WCSD BEFORE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE COUNTY. IT IS "OUR" WCSD, THE PUBLIC HAS TO RESPECT THAT DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPUTIES WHO PUT THIER LIFE ON THE LINE EVERY DAY. A FEW BAD APPLES WHO CROSSED THE LINE HAVE TARNISHED THAT IMAGE. RIGHT NOW I FEEL MOST PEOPLE DO NOT RESPECT THE WCSD.
I think Boykin should stay as long as he can. A letter has been sent to Raleigh, which was made available for reading on the newspaper's website. I don't think any of the allegations made in the letter can be substantiated. IF Raleigh differs, it's still going to take a while for all of the meetings to be held to remove Boykin. And the committees in Raleigh may agree that no wrong has been done by Boykin. I would never vote for any candidate based on his political party...that's just mindless voting. A vote should be for the most qualified candidate regardless of political party. By the way...why was it that all the petitioners who signed the letter to Raleigh were African-Americans? Could their complaints be construed as racially motivated?
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