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Resolution at Watauga Democratic Party Convention Calls for Local Officials To Be Covered by Ethics Rules

April 11, 2013. Among the dozen resolutions that will be presented to the Watauga County Democratic Party’s county convention on April 13 is one titled “Resolution To Include County and Municipal Government Officials in the Definition of ‘Covered Persons’ and ‘Public Servants’ Under NC General Statute, Chapter 138A, ‘State Government Ethics Act.’ ”

donkey-democrat-logoCurrently, no county- or city-level elected officials are covered by the provisions of the State Government Ethics Act, and members of the precinct committees of Meat Camp, New River 2, and New River 3 are suggesting that they should be.

A similar resolution was introduced in March at the Watauga Republican Convention but was ruled out of order. That failed resolution is cited as part of the language of the Democratic resolution.

Among the other resolutions that will be voted on by the Democrats is one calling for citizens to be granted the power to recall elected officials via petition. Currently, North Carolina has no recall provision in its state constitution. Some 19 other states have recall provisions for state-wide elected officials, and 29 states have recall provisions for local elected officials.

The Democrats will also consider a local resolution opposing a current County Commission proposal to dissolve the board of the Social Services Department and move those responsibilities to the County Commission.

Other resolutions address issues arising out of legislative actions initiated by the new Republican majority in the NC General Assembly, including the failure to expand Medicaid coverage for the uninsured, the “assault” on the state’s municipalities, the plan to fast-track fracking in the state, and other current issues.

Complete texts of all 12 resolutions which will be considered can be accessed at http://wataugadems.com/1296.

The Democratic County Convention will convene on the top floor of the County Courthouse at High Noon on Saturday for lunch, preceding the Convention program which will kick off at 1 p.m.