Carolina Politics Online

Tanya Jameson who writes for the Charlotte Observer posted a column today on her blog entitled “Nick Mackey Looking Unbeatable” in which she lavished praised for the ethically challenged candidate and claimed that “he looked brilliant last night.”  I didn’t see the debate and Mackey may very well have come off seemingly sharp and articulate.  Ms Jameson is most certainly entitled to her opinion, but I find it unfortunate that she seems to disregard the always lengthening list of Mr. Mackey’s past indiscretions.

I imagine come Election Day Mackey probably will win just because of the demographics and voter trends of that particular House District.  The State Assembly has purged itself of a few bad eggs over the last few years and now the voters are preparing to roll one right back in through the door.  We can only hope that egg cracks before it reaches the threshold.

Charlotte lawyer Nick Mackey — who lost his bid to become Mecklenburg’s sheriff and is now running for the N.C. House — is accused in a lawsuit of failing to pay at least $56,592 in rent and other charges for his law offices.

The landlord, 212 South Tryon Limited Partnership, claims the Mackey & Associates law firm also owes at least $14,317 in interest and late fees.

Mackey’s rent was $6,422 a month for offices in the Johnston Building at 212 South Tryon Street, court documents show.

Charlotte Observer

Mackey must have a huge house in order to have a closet large enough to fit all of his skeletons in.  I wonder how many lemmings will vote for him on Tuesday.

Two N.C. House challengers are among the Charlotte-area legislative candidates endorsed by the N.C. Association of Educators for the May 6 primary.

The group endorsed Democrat Nick Mackey over incumbent Drew Saunders in District 99 and Republican Larry Hale over incumbent Jim Gulley and challenger Edy Brotherton in District 103.

Charlotte Observer

Any political group that would hand out an endorsement to a corrupt, embarrassing excuse for a man like Nick Mackey is not a serious organization.  As I said the other day, neither the NEA nor it’s state level affiliates give a rat’s ass about any child’s education.  This endorsement is living proof of that.

Joel Ford, a businessman who pledged to unify a divided party, was elected chairman of Mecklenburg County Democrats Wednesday night.

He’s the party’s first African American chairman in two decades.

“Today is a day of new beginnings,” the 39-year-old contractor told more than 250 members of the party’s executive committee.

Ford soundly defeated attorney Pender McElroy 489-362 in weighted precinct votes. He also won 27 of 44 votes cast by elected and party officials.

The vote could close a contentious period for the party that began with December’s controversial party election for sheriff. Local party activists chose attorney Nick Mackey only to see the election overturned by the state party. County commissioners ultimately appointed Mackey’s opponent as sheriff.

Charlotte Observer

It didn’t take long for state Rep. Drew Saunders to come out swinging against his Democratic primary opponent, Nick Mackey.

Mackey, who filed Friday to run against the six-term House incumbent, gained wide attention last year in his ultimately unsuccessful bid for sheriff. Now a lawyer, he’s a former Charlotte police officer and candidate for judge.

“I have no desire to be a Policeman, Judge or Sheriff,” Saunders said in a news release. “I am running for this office to represent the people of the district, not because I am mad that I cannot be Sheriff.

Charlotte Observer

It won’t be hard for Saunders to cut Mackey down.  He has plenty of indiscretions that are ripe for the picking.

“My opponent has been held in contempt of court because he would not represent one person in the courtroom. If he did not represent one person in the heart of Charlotte, how can we expect him to represent 67,000 people while working out of the State Capitol in Raleigh?” Saunders said.

Mackey, 40, declined to respond.

What’s he going to say?  It’s true.

Charlotte attorney Nick Mackey filed today to run as a Democrat for N.C. House seat District 99, which covers northern Mecklenburg County and is currently occupied by Rep. Drew Saunders.The two will meet in a primary May 6.

“My experience in running for sheriff has shown me there is a spirit in our community that longs for change from the status quo,” Mackey said, reading from a prepared statement. He declined to answer any questions.

The Charlotte Observer

I guess he decided against judge. Just what we need, another corrupt politician in Raleigh. More power to Saunders to fight off this challenge.

Doesn’t a judge have to have respect for the law in order to enforce it?  This guy just doesn’t go away.  Let’s see if the lemmings will follow him over the cliff again.

Charlotte attorney Nick Mackey plans to file for office today, according to a news release from a Democratic Party official.

It was unclear what office he would seek, though sources say he may run for judge.

Michael Lawson, president of the African American Caucus of the N.C. Democratic Party, said in a news release that Mackey will file at 11:30 a.m. at the Mecklenburg County board of elections. Filing closes at noon.

Charlotte Observer

And the African American Caucus of the N.C. Democratic Party by bolstering this is showing that they have absolutely no credibility.

Many expect to see a showdown between two longtime westside politicians — Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Vilma Leake and Mecklenburg County Commissioner Norman Mitchell in the Democratic primary for Mitchell’s seat.

The two are at odds over the recent selection of a sheriff. Leake wanted county commissioners to appoint lawyer Nick Mackey, who was chosen in Mecklenburg Democratic precinct voting to replace Sheriff Jim Pendergraph. After the state Democratic party invalidated that vote, Mitchell voted with the majority of commissioners to name Chipp Bailey instead.

Leake, who has represented the west/southwest District 2 on the school board since 1997, said she met with supporters this week about a possible run for county commissioner and will announce her decision Monday.

Mitchell, who has represented the same district since 1998 and has filed for re-election, says he’s ready.

“Let her run,” he said Friday. “I would definitely use Nick Mackey as a campaign issue.”

Charlotte Observer

LOL!  Indeed Vilma, run on Nick Mackey.  Slam Commissioner Mitchell for not standing up for the man who stole the (s)election, lied to people, illegally reorganized precincts, committed bankruptcy fraud, and the list goes on.  I’m sure that will be a big whopper of a winning issue for you.

Former Mecklenburg Sheriff’s candidate Nick Mackey has been appointed temporary chair of precinct 237, part of a local precinct reorganization process that has been largely overseen by the state Democratic Party.

Mackey was one of 123 people to be appointed as chairs in Mecklenburg. He was the only one to apply in his precinct and therefore was automatically appointed. In precincts where more than one person applied, Mecklenburg Democratic Party Acting Chair Pat Patton made the decision.

Precincts will hold meetings on Tuesday to elect chairmen and officers, who will serve until 2009.

Charlotte Observer

Not surprising.  He shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the party apparatus, but I suppose screwing up one precinct is a definite improvement over the entire county law enforcement.

After weeks of intense criticism over how he handled the county sheriff’s election, Charlotte attorney David Erdman resigned today as Mecklenburg County’s Democratic Party chairman.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after county commissioners voted to name Chipp Bailey sheriff — rather than wait for the Democrats to hold a new election to nominate a candidate.

The decision represents an about face for Erdman, who insisted earlier this week he wouldn’t quit.

“I apologize for all my mistakes and shortcomings …,” Erdman said at a news conference today.

“I hope that my resignation will help promote the healing of this community.”

The Charlotte Observer

Damn, can I call the shots or what.  He did the right thing.  He admitted his mistakes and bowed our gracefully.

Mecklenburg County commissioners tonight appointed Daniel Chipp Bailey as the county’s new sheriff, as more than 75 members of his department filled the meeting chamber to watch the vote.

The appointment, approved by a vote of 7 to 1, takes effect immediately.

The Charlotte Observer

And finally the man who was actually qualified for the job has now been installed.  Now things at the sheriff’s office can get back to normal and move on with business as usual.

I think two major things needs to happen as a result of this circus created by the Mecklenburg Democratic Committee and Nick Mackey and his cohorts who attempted to steal this (s)election.  David Erdman, Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chairman needs to resign.  He is partly responsible for this fiasco by allowing the precincts to be organized in a very lax manner, to which he himself admits.  Secondly, Team Mackey needs to be investigated and charged with election fraud.  There was blatant wrong doing and manipulation in this entire process and he cannot be allowed to skate by.

A judge has rejected sheriff candidate Nick Mackey’s request for a temporary restraining order - clearing the way for Mecklenburg County commissioners to appoint Chief Deputy Chipp Bailey sheriff at their meeting tonight.

The Charlotte Observer

According to County Commissioner Parks Helms, Bailey will be appointed to the Sheriff’s position at tonight’s council meeting.

Bailey said he has remained silent during most of the selection process, but said commissioners should not wait any longer on an appointment.

“I believe the citizens of Mecklenburg County and the staff of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office will be best served if you go ahead with your appointment of me, Chipp Bailey, as the new Sheriff on Tuesday …” Bailey wrote in an e-mail this morning to county commissioners. “Then and only then can the community begin to heal from this divisive process.”

A majority of commissioners have said they’d like to appoint Bailey at Tuesday’s meeting, unless lawyers advise them to hold off on doing so.

The Charlotte Observer

I think the vast majority of Mecklenberg residents would agree with Mr. Bailey that he is the best qualified to continue Pendergraph’s term.  Appoint him and be done with it.

But as I said yesterday, don’t expect Mackey and his corrupt associates who stole the (s)election to step aside gracefully.

A panel of Mecklenburg County commissioners recommended this afternoon that the full board vote to appoint Chipp Bailey as sheriff at their Tuesday meeting.

The decision by an ad hoc committee overseeing the controversial sheriff race came about an hour after an attorney for Nick Mackey said his client will seek a temporary restraining order to keep Mecklenburg County commissioners from appointing a new sheriff.

I would say that this is unbelievable, but knowing what a couple of douche bags Mackey and Gresham are there is no surprise here.

Woohoo!!!

A state Democratic review panel threw out Nick Mackey’s nomination to be Mecklenburg County’s new sheriff after hours of testimony Saturday about broken party rules in the hectic run-up to last month’s special election.

The council found “clear and convincing evidence” that local Democrats failed to call or publicize required meetings as precincts, most of which voted heavily for Mackey, quickly organized before the Dec. 6 election.

The county executive committee must meet within 30 days to vote again, state Council of Review Chairman Jim Slaughter said. He urged Mecklenburg commissioners, who must name a replacement for former Sheriff Jim Pendergraph, to take no action before Democrats convene.

The Charlotte Observer

Justice has prevailed. Nick Mackey is a crook and a charlatan. He cheated and stole this (s)election out from under Chip Bailey, the proper man for the job and who I suspect will now become Mecklenburg County Sheriff. It’s nice to see this piece of it is finally over, but I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of this tale. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a law suit rise up out of this and of course we’ll hear over the next weeks the complaints of black leftists who have been trained to scream racism every time they don’t get what they want. For now, the business of the Sheriff’s office can finally move forward.

From this link, you can watch the video of the Al Sharpton rally for Nick Mackey.  It’s four minutes and forty-eight seconds in which you can witness the herd mentality front and center and the blind leading the blind.

Lawyers for 12 Democratic Party activists who have filed formal complaints over the special party vote shared with the Observer documents they sent to the state party today. The documents include witness and exhibit lists, a description of their case, and facts about the election process as acknowledged by county party Chairman David Erdman.

The petitioners ask the state party’s Council of Review — which will hold a hearing on Saturday in Charlotte — to throw out more than half of the votes from the Dec. 6 county party election. Charlotte lawyer Nick Mackey won that election, but would likely become the loser if votes from improperly organized precincts are rejected.

The Charlotte Observer

Maybe we can finally put this mess behind us and allow the true Sheriff, Chip Bailey, to get to work.

There are new accusations that Nick Mackey and his supporters rigged the sheriff’s election — some say they put precincts together with people they knew would vote for the Charlotte lawyer, and purposely didn’t give a voice to his opponent’s supporters.

John Andrews was the chair of Precinct 109 before it was retooled for the Dec. 6 sheriff’s election. He says he had no idea there was even an effort to reorganize the precinct. No one ever called him.

“I think that’s wrong,” Andrews said. “I don’t think they followed the rules.”

He says he didn’t even know his neighbors had voted in the recent election until we told him.

“They organized the precinct to specifically vote for him,” Andrews said.

He means Nick Mackey, the candidate precinct 109 voted for.

WCNC

It seems fairly concrete at this point that Mackey and those close to him cheated in order for him to “win” the selection process by the Mecklenburg Democratic Committee to make him the new county Sheriff.  These allegations are very damaging and there are several of them out there now.   I don’t see any legitimate reason at this point for the County Commission to approve his appointment and he should also be indicted with fraud.

Charlotte lawyer Nick Mackey was found in contempt of court Monday for failing to show up for the December trial of one of his clients.

District Court Judge Donald Boone fined Mackey $100 for the offense.

“You shouldn’t be late,” the judge told Mackey.

Mackey did not testify but gave notice in court that he intends to appeal.

The Charlotte Observer

He’s lucky.  He could have gone to jail.  How can a man who clearly has no respect for the law or authority be a law enforcing, authority figure?

A group of residents are planning a rally this month to encourage county commissioners to accept the Democratic Party’s process used to pick Mecklenburg County’s next sheriff.

The rally is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at St. Paul’s Baptist Church, located at 1401 N. Allen Street.

It will feature local speakers, and organizers have also invited leaders from the state and national NAACP branches and the Rev. Al Sharpton, said Dwayne Collins, who is helping to plan the event.

The Charlotte Observer

Haha!  Now this really is a circus.  I’ve been calling it one all along, but it doesn’t technically qualify until Reverend Al shows up.  If Jesse Jackson tags along he’ll be the opening sideshow act.  I might have to go to this just for the amusement.

Even though state Rep. Pete Cunningham resigned Dec. 31, Democrats may not choose a successor until spring. Why the delay?Blame Mecklenburg County’s messy sheriff’s race.

In that, Nick Mackey beat another candidate in voting by Democratic Party activists. But his Dec. 6 win is being challenged by critics who question whether his supporters followed party rules in picking the precinct leaders who elected him.

State Democratic officials hold a hearing on the controversy Feb. 2. Their ruling is expected to affect precinct organizations in Cunningham’s House District 107, and the people who would pick his replacement.

The Charlotte Observer

Mackey’s become like an infectious disease that keeps on spreading. Not only does Charlotte have a vacant Sheriff’s post going on two months now, but they can’t fill their vacant House seat in the State Legislature either because of his shenanigans.