Wilson Democratic Party Drama

A local staff reporter pressed persistently for the story you're about to read concerning Chris Boykin, chair of the Wilson Democratic Party who has refused to do his duty to endorse the local Democratic nominee for Sheriff. It couldn't have been easy trying to get a comment from all the folks covered in the article. Her tenacity is applauded.

The headline reads "Statement Forthcoming." For the past few months since the May primary when Woodard won the nomination "forthcoming" has been the rhetorical response from the local democratic party. LISTEN UP PARTY PEOPLE... HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU REALLY NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND WHY HAS IT BEEN SO HARD FOR YOU PEOPLE (the one's in charge) TO DO THE RIGHT THING??? What's really going on behind the scenes. It's time to clean house.



Dems want chair out - Boykin: 'Statement forthcoming'

Six Wilson Democrats have sent a letter to North Carolina Democratic Chairman David Young asking the party remove Chris Boykin as Wilson County Democratic chairman. The letter sent Friday stated, "We the people petition the request of the expeditious removal of Chris Boykin from the duties of the said position effective immediately." The letter cited seven reasons one of which is "Boykin has not endorsed and refuses to acknowledge the Democratic nominee for the Wilson County Sheriff's Department."

Calvin Woodard won the Democratic nomination for Wilson County Sheriff in the May primary when he defeated 28-year incumbent Wayne Gay.

Since the primary, John Farmer retired as a major from the department and is running as an unaffiliated candidate for sheriff. Although Democrats have said Boykin, a major in the sheriff's office, supports Farmer, Boykin has not publicly made any announcement about who he is backing.

However, Boykin said Friday afternoon, that a statement from him is forth coming. State party rules allow for the removal of officers and committee members of the Democratic Party, on any level, if they support or aid any opposing political candidate. Young has 30 days to see if the letter requesting Boykin's resignation has merit. If they decide it does, they must take the information to the Council of Review, which decides whether or not to remove Boykin.

"I hope it doesn't go that far," said Gwen Wilkins, chairwoman of the 1st Congressional District. "I hope he resigns. I don't know if he will."

So far, Wilson County Democrats have not called a meeting to discuss the issue. Wilson attorney Millicent Graves, vice chairman of the Democratic Party, would be the person to call the meeting. She hasn't commented on the direction of the party yet. On Friday, Graves said she had been out of town for a week and had no comment.

Democrats petitioning for Boykin's removal are Isiaette and Isiah McArn, YoLanda M. Davis, Gene A. and Lillie Barnes, Venetta McNeil-Barnes, Bill McConney and Levolyre F. Pitt. Only three registered Democrats were needed, according to party rules.

Davis, executive board member, said transparency is most important to her for the party. "I think a meeting should be announced so that all Democrats can plan to be there," Davis said. "Everybody needs to be a part of this, not just a few. The last time they presented us with a slate of officers I didn't know anything about it."
Davis said the party needs to vote on a nomination committee. "We're tired of the back-door deals," she said.

Last week, Wilkins sent a letter to Boykin asking for his resignation. Some Democrats have voiced their opinions about what they think should happen next and some have ideas of who they think should be the next chairman.

Charles Davis, executive committee member, said he believes Graves would be good for the post as well as Brenda Avery. "I really thought Brenda Avery would have been elected this time," Davis said. "She is very well qualified, she's a nice person and knows a lot of people."

Davis said he feels things should have gone differently in the party by now. Davis said Boykin should have resigned right after the primary and other Democrats should have stood with Woodard.

"Calvin ran a nice race and won," Davis said. "He played by the rules. He's a nice young man. All of the major players, and I will name them, Betty McCain, Alan Thomas, Gov. Hunt, who recently has said something, G.K. Butterfield should have stood up immediately."

George Brooks didn't have any person in mind for the chairman's post but did say Boykin is a good man.
"He has a conflict, he'd be right to resign," Brooks said.

Brooks said it is important that the new chairman be good at organizing, be a good Democrat and have time to work with the party.

Frank Emory would not say who he thinks should be chairman but said the party does need a new chairman.
"We need a chair that will begin working with all of the candidates," Emory said. "We need to raise some money, get a structure strong enough for all of us to know." Emory said the party needs a central communications link, which he believes will happen.

A.P. Coleman, second-vice chairman, said he sees a need for transparency for the Democratic party. "I didn't know what was going on until it was told to us," Coleman said. "First of all, I didn't know the procedure of the removal of a chair and I'm the second-vice chairman. That's part of the leadership. The procedures of any other organization I'm in, I know what's going on." Coleman said the party needs a new chairman and new officers. "The officers need training and party support of the leadership they select," he said.

Wilson County Commissioner Sid Boyette said the party's leader needs good leadership qualities. Boyette is running to keep his commission seat and said who is named chairman is not high on his list. "I have a race to run myself -- I'm not concerned with who heads the party," Boyette said. "We have competition. We have to get out to the people what we have done, what we stand for and what we hope to get done for the future."

* This article appeared in the Wilson Times written by staff writer Janet Conner-Knox