After Rick Southerland’s drop out, plans are set on how the seat will be filled
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– “This has been a very dramatic week that no one wants to go through,” said Jill Hopman, the director of the New Hanover County Democratic Party, in regards of the Rick Southerland dropout.
Southerland was in the top four in the primary for the Democratic Party, in the New Hanover County Board of Education, but a day later, everything fell apart. He didn’t tell Hopman he was friends and lived with Jaymes Osborne, a registered sex offender, who was convicted of possession of child pornography.
“I still to this day do not understand how Mr. Southerland thought he was going to run, for school board of all things, especially with this on his record without disclosing it,” said Hopman.
After finding out, Hopman urged Southerland to drop out of the race, which is something that he didn’t want to do at first. After much pressure from Hopman and others, Southerland filed paperwork to officially withdraw from his candidacy on Thursday.
To make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, Hopman says the party will be applying new vetting procedures for candidates. It will include:
- Make candidates answer a much more extensive questionnaire, that will also ask about close associates
- Make candidates do a national background check
- Make candidates swear to an affidavit, swearing the truth to the questionnaire, with consequences if there is any dishonesty or omission
- The party will have a new team that will do a deep search for each candidate. It will include looking through public databases, like the sex offender registry
Who will take over Southerland’s spot? Hopman says by law, the County Executive Committee will choose a replacement for Southerland, and they will pick anybody who wishes to run, as long they follow the new vetting procedures. The County Executive Committee will hold a special emergency meeting sometime in early April, to select a candidate. Hopman says anybody can run, and make their case as to the committee, as long they follow the new vetting procedures.
Margie Gerwirtzman came in 5th place, and in most cases, she would be the next one in line, but after realizing that the committee will choose whoever seemed fit, she is ready to go at it again.
“I am continuing to work hard; I can’t give up until I am out of the race. Even when I am done, however this runs out, I am so incredibly enrolled in the system right now that I could never stop,” said Gerwirtzman.
Watching all this drama about Southerland is Sandy Eyles, with the New Hanover County Educational Justice, says she hopes this is learning step for not just Democrats, but for all parties.
“What I want to see from this, is for people who are running for office, considering running for office, or people who have been elected to office, to understand how important it is for the public for them, to be transparent and honest,” said Eyles.
The canvass is on Friday and will authenticate the results of the primary election. Jill Hopman says the County Executive Committee will decide who will replace Southerland, in an emergency meeting expected to be held sometime in early April.
