Greensboro 101

“It appears to me the irregularities and improprieties occurred to such an extent that they tainted the results of the entire election and cast doubt on its fairness,” said the board chairman, Bob Cordle, shortly before the five-member panel voted unanimously to throw out the November results between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready. “I believe the people of North Carolina deserve a fair election and deserve to have their votes counted properly.” The board’s vote came moments after Harris admitted that he misspoke under oath earlier in the day.

Hightower said, “My district doesn’t get any kind of response. They don’t get fair treatment across the city.” Hightower may believe that but the facts tell a different story. In District 1 for priority calls the police response time was 7:47 which is the second lowest response time in the city.

State election officials said Monday that a political operative for Republican Mark Harris orchestrated a complex scheme to illegally collect and falsify absentee ballots in the 9th Congressional District last year, hiding evidence of the scheme as it unfolded and obstructing the state’s investigation after the election.

Council member Sharon Hightower said it is hypocritical for her colleagues to have campaigned for office on promises of open government, initially invite public comment in town halls and then run for cover when people don’t comment to their liking.