WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- After reviewing all 3,903 signatures on a petition trying to stop tax payer money going toward a new ballpark in town, The New Hanover County Board of Elections says the group came up short... 14 signatures short, to be exact.
2,828 signatures were verified by the Board of Elections, just missing the mark at 2,842 needed to move the ordinance forward. New Hanover County Board of Elections Director Marvin McFadyen says the next move is up to the city.
City Attorney Bill Wolak says Wilmington will allow additional petitions to be entered for consideration. Wolak says there is no time limit for the petitions and once they are returned to the city clerk, the signatures will be turned into the Board of Elections for further analysis.
Ben McCoy and Josh Fulton, two men involved with circulating the petition, say as of Friday at 4 p.m., 73 additional signatures were turned into the city clerk. They were told the additions should be in the possession of the Board of Elections by Monday.
Incredible. First reference
Incredible. First reference to Stalin took less than 30 minutes.
What's the over/under on the Hitler reference? 2 hours sound about right?
You are some seriously damaged folks, fighting against our cities future.
Play Ball. If they are
Play Ball. If they are short, they are short. Deal with it like Mooch does
Play ball people! They
Play ball people! They should bury that stupid petition under home plate. Stadium equals jobs and a drunken Mooch. Seems like a no brainer to me!
It should be illegal to
It should be illegal to allow them to add more signatures. If they came ul short tuff luck beter luck next time. I hooe tge City of Wilmington stands by the legalities of a failed petition.
This makes it easy. The city
This makes it easy.
The city allows for more comments forcing a vote.
Voters are willing to PAY for the vote(because they signed the petition for the special vote)
and........
Whichever way it goes all the politicians can wash their hands and say it's the voters will.
Typical pass the buck politicians.
I wish they'd just say "can't afford it" and be done with it. Or conversely say we're doing it.
But allowing he petition absolves them of any responsibility and makes the stadium vote a moot political point that can't hurt their re-election campaigns.
Bless their little hearts.......
Best Regards
Vog
One thing I have noticed on
One thing I have noticed on the amendment/petition rules is that it does not address the adding of more signatures it only mentions that the petition itself (or amendment) cannot be modified.
An example:
This petition prevents the city from using taxpayer funds for any sports entities.
And:
This petition prevents the city from using taxpayer funds for this sports entity.
This is the SUBJECT of the petition/amendment and they are different. This is what the rule addresses. These are 2 separate petitions.
I would not be surprised to see a wave of additional signings. Remember signing has to be done in person as opposed to a survey which could be done online. This is what concerns the powers that be. There was an effort made to OPPOSE this and it was done quickly. But the survey DID show that although baseball is very popular - fiscal responsibility trumps a desire to have a team here. The survey respondents were very clear they wanted little to no taxpayer funds used. The survey results and the speed at which the petition garnered the signatures tells the city that funding is the key issue here.
The room tax for the convention center was a little different in that city taxpayers weren't affected it was the "outsiders" and the visitors who were. This particular stadium tax though is on the residents and is therefore looked at a little closer.
Residents vote - visitors don't......
That's the REAL reason the city is allowing for more time.
Best Regards
Vog