Revisiting Wilson One Year Later - Chris Boykin Resign or be Removed

We're continuing our series on "Revisiting Wilson One Year Later" if you didn't read the first post follow the link.

August of last year was full of anticipation and excitement for the Wilson County Democratic Party. In our previous post, "Revisiting Wilson One Year Later," We're reflecting on how we got from there to here, one year later concerning the local party.

We're also looking back at some of the folks who were very instrumental in helping to open "closed doors." Those who have helped with bringing more inclusion of African American participation in the local chapter. What a difference a year makes.

Not only had local Democrats become fed up with the way the County Democratic Party was not supporting the Party nominee for Sheriff, there was someone else who had noticed as well. Gwen Wilkins.

Wilkins was the chairwoman of the 1st Congressional District of the NC Democratic Party. The end of July 2010 brought her to Wilson to bring a contribution to the Woodard campaign and to let him know the party did indeed support him. She also asked for the resignation of the local party chair, Chris Boykin. (Note: Wilkins' now serves as our 1st Vice chair for the NC Democratic Party.)

It was very evident that from May 2010 to August 2010, Boykin had not and was not going to accept or acknowledge (you decide) the results of the May primary. His refusal would be in defiance of the Plan of Organization (POO) which serves as the guideline and bylaws of the State Democratic party. He had to make a decision to remove himself or be removed. Boykin refused to speak on the matter. He refused to answer phone calls. He refused to take the time to see folks who stopped by the Sheriff's office to speak to him.

(Cartoon by DiFilippo/Wilson Times files)

After weeks of Chris Boykin ignoring the request to resign, a few the towns people got fed up as well and said "enough is enough." A letter was drafted, signed and hand-delivered to the State Democratic Party asking for the "immediate removal" of Chris Boykin as chair of the Wilson County Democratic Party. 

Boykin never publicly announced or acknowledged Calvin Woodard as the nominee for Sheriff from May to August. And while he should have been supporting Woodard, he was actually lending that help to Woodard's "other opponent" Johnny Farmer. As the party chair he could only support the Democratic party. That wasn't happening nor was it going to happen. Not while Chris Boykin was the head of the local party as chair. 

The local news headlines read, "Party Leaders Weigh in; Dems Want Chair Out; Democrats Still Waiting for Boykin's Decision - AND THEN FINALLY, CITIZENS READ ... DEM CHAIR RESIGNS.