By Erin Smith
On Wednesday, the future of the State Board of Elections investigation into election fraud allegations in Bladen County was thrown into further turmoil with Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement that no interim state elections board will be seated.
In a press release, Governor Cooper cited State Republican officials’ refusal to submit a list of five names as the reason for no new board. The move leaves the current election fraud investigation issue unresolved.
The nine member State Board of Elections and Ethics, which was conducting the investigation, was officially dissolved at 12 noon on Friday, December 28, 2018, by a three judge panel.
In his statement, Governor Cooper said, without an interim Board of Elections the evidentiary hearing scheduled for January 11, 2019, cannot take place. In a statement from NC State Board of Elections and Ethics spokesman Patrick Gannon, he said, “Only seated State Board members can hold evidentiary hearings, certify elections, order new elections, or hear election protests. Accordingly, the hearing previously scheduled for January 11 is postponed. All subpoenas remain legally effective.”
Legislation recently adopted by the General Assembly specifies a new State Board of Elections panel cannot be seated until January 31, 2019. No new date for the hearing has been set.
In another development on Wednesday evening, the Mark Harris campaign announced plans to seek a court order on Thursday (January 3, 2019) requesting the election be certified and Harris be declared the winner of the 9th Congressional District. The NC State Board of Elections and Ethics voted in November not to certify the 9th District race, the Bladen County Commissioner District 3 race, and the Bladen County Soil and Water District Board race.
According to unofficial results published on the NC State Board of Elections website, Republican Mark Harris leads Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes in the 9th Congressional District Race.
On Tuesday, January 1, 2019, former Congressman Robert Pittenger, who held the 9th District seat, issued a statement ending speculation he would run if a new primary and general election are ordered.
“As a Member of Congress for the last six years, I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving the 9th Congressional District. Regardless of the determination of the evidentiary hearing, I will not be a candidate in a possible primary election,” said Pittenger.
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