Updates on Rick Southerland candidacy, and what happens next
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– There’s pressure on the Board of Elections and the Democratic Party to come up with solution.
Rick Southerland earned a spot on the November ballot in Tuesday’s primary, but on Wednesday he announced he was dropping out of the race after it was revealed he lives with registered sex offender Jaymes Osborne, who was convicted of possessing child pornography.
Southerland confirmed to WWAY that he filled out and filed the paperwork to withdraw his candidacy on Thursday with the Board of Election.
So, what happens next?
The state elections board tells WWAY News, it’s guided by state statue 115-C-37 on vacancies in nominations for membership on county boards. It says, “If any candidate nominated on a partisan basis shall die, resign, or for any reason become ineligible or disqualified between the date of his nomination and the time for the election, such vacancy thereby may be filled by the actions of the county executive committee of the political party of such.”
So, what is the position of the county election committee?
New Hanover Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman posted on social media, “We are not 100% sure yet, because this is an almost unprecedented situation, where a candidate withdraws after the primary election, but before the county canvass. The canvass, scheduled for Friday March 13th, is when final votes are counted, the election is certified, and candidates officially become our party’s nominees, but until then, we are in this weird ambiguous twilight zone. I spoke to our county BOE Director earlier today, Ms. Denay Harris, and we are now waiting for guidance from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.”
The Board of Election released a statement saying its process is guided by North Carolina Statue 163-113, which governs a nominee’s right to withdraw as a candidate.
It states, “The person submits to the board of elections which certified the nomination a written request that person be permitted to withdraw.”
If County executive committee makes the decision, will it pick the candidate who came to the next position, or a candidate it wants regardless of results? Sixth place finisher Nelson Beaulieu said he doesn’t think he will get it.
“I don’t think so, they haven’t called me, so by right, the 5th place candidate gets it, I was the 6th place candidate,” said Beaulieu.
In a post, Hopman says she’s been conducting emergency meetings and will reveal more information about a code of conduct and vetting procedures of candidates shortly.
In a statement released today, Osborne says “I want to be clear about something important: The label of “sex offender” does not automatically define someone as a predator. That distinction matters. It certainly matters to me, because it does not reflect who I am and I refuse to allow anyone to feel emboldened to associate my existence as such. I am a survivor of trafficking. For years, I lived with the shame and silence that so many survivors experience.”
Southerland responded saying, “I want to acknowledge the bravery of Mr. Osborne in speaking his truth and sharing such a traumatic and deeply personal part of his past. That is not easy, and I recognize the courage it takes to do so publicly. I also take responsibility for my role in putting him in a position where he was scrutinized and compelled to defend himself.”
