LUMBERTON — Four elections could be conducted in Southeastern North Carolina in the near future, depending on the State Board of Elections’ decision concerning an uncertified judicial race in Robeson County.
On Thursday the state board deferred a decision on the District Court 16-B Seat 2 race between Democrat Vanessa Burton and Republican Jack Moody Jr. until a legal question could be resolved, according to information from the board. No explanation for the legal question was given, but The Robesonian has been told it had to do with a congratulatory letter from Gov. Roy Cooper to Burton. Cooper does not have the power to declare a winner.
The state board also ordered new elections for Bladen County Commissioner District 3 and Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor.
The three races in Robeson and Bladen counties were not certified by the state board because of concerns that the same absentee ballot irregularities alleged in the race for the N.C. District 9 seat in the U.S. House may have been in play in those contests.
The allegation led to the District 9 race not being certified and sparked a months-long investigation by the state board staff. A four-day evidentiary hearing ended Thursday with a board decision to order new elections for the Bladen County races and the District 9 campaign.
The board’s vote to order a new District 9 election was unanimous. The board also announced Thursday it would set dates for a primary and election day.
Board spokesman Patrick Gannon said Friday, “As the law stands now, the District 9 election will be a full election, start to finish, just like any other. There will be absentee by-mail and in-person early voting, as required by law.
“And yes, many eyes will be on that election, including the eyes of state board investigators, data staff and attorneys.”
The decision to call a new District 9 election was made easier when Republican candidate Mark Harris conceded during his Thursday testimony that the public’s confidence had been undermined to such an extent that a new election was warranted. Early results showed Harris had a 905-vote lead over Democrat Dan McCready.
McCready on Friday announced on Friday night he would file for election.
In the District Court 16-B contest early results showed Moody won. But the victory was given to Burton after absentee and provisional ballots were counted.
Burton had filed a brief with the State Board of Elections that argued for the results to be certified. Moody also filed a brief. He argued for a new election, and a witness testified that some absentee ballots were potentially tainted, unsealed when they should have been sealed.
Moody said Thursday he is ready to run again for the judicial seat.
“If they call for a new election, I’ve come too far not to be in it,” said Moody, a public defender.
The Robesonian has tried multiple times and to no avail to contact Burton. She is an assistant district attorney.
