Republican state Rep. Richard Morgan rushed a local bill through the General Assembly and into law last week — apparently without anyone in Moore County knowing about it except commissioners Michael Holden and Colin McKenzie, who asked him to introduce the measure.
Paul Helms, the current chairman of the Board of Commissioners and the likely target of the law, referred to Morgan, Holden and McKenzie as the “Mafia” that will soon be running Moore County.
The law will remain in effect until a new board takes office Dec. 2. Morgan said Holden and McKenzie asked him to introduce the legislation to prevent any last-minute “shenanigans” by the lame-duck board.
Kinnaird told The Pilot Friday that she and Sen. Howard Lee, who currently represent Moore County, were not aware that the bill was controversial. The Senate unanimously approved it.
“We heard nothing about it at all,” Kinnaird said. “It was a local bill, and local bills are usually never voted against. It was before us, so we voted for it. We don’t take up controversial local bills in the short session. We could have stopped it in its tracks if we had known it was controversial.
“I looked at it. I thought it was a little odd. But we knew there was a factional war going on. What’s sad is that no one knew it was happening. There was no chance for public input. People who are affected by it couldn’t weigh in on it. That goes against democratic principles.”
Kinnaird and Lee, both Orange County Democrats, represent the 16th district, which includes Moore County. Under the new redistricting plan, Moore County will be in another district next year.
“Maybe we who voted in the affirmative on this could possibly call it back,” Kinnaird said. “I will check into that.”
Morgan Stands by Action
Morgan said he stands by his decision to introduce the bill and engineer its passage.
“Clearly, the outcome of the election has been determined,” Morgan told The Pilot Friday. “They (Holden and McKenzie) asked me to introduce the bill. They had concerns about possible actions that could be taken before the new board takes office. This offers some protection. I think it is the right thing to do. This legislation clearly indicate my complete trust in Michael (Holden).”
One possible action the new law could thwart is an attempt by the commissioners to levy an additional half-cent sales tax before December, which counties have been given the authority to do by the General Assembly.
“Clearly, I am concerned with any tax hike,” Morgan said. “If I can make it more difficult to raise taxes, I will do that.”
Helms said there has been no discussion about imposing an additional half-cent sales tax before December.
“Richard Morgan ought to try to solve the state’s problems, not run Moore County,” Helms said. “It’s a shame that the majority doesn’t rule in Moore County. Looks like the Mafia will soon be running Moore County.”
Helms said he did not know of any key controversial issues that might arise before December.
“Let Richard Morgan handle it,” Helms said. “He’s the one running the county, he and Bob Holden.”
Bob Holden is the father of Michael Holden, who is a former chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Paul Helms and Bob Holden, once close friends and political allies, found themselves on opposite sides of the fence this year — the result of a long, bitter feud in the county Republican Party.
‘Tired of It’
Helms lost his re-election bid in the Sept. 10 primary to former county commissioner Virginia Saunders, who is aligned with Holden and McKenzie. Bob Holden backed Saunders in the primary
“I’m just glad I’m getting out,” Helms said. “I’m tired of it. They want the power. They want to do what’s best for them.”
Helms said he is concerned about the direction county government will take in coming months.
“Seriously, I do think we’re in for a rough time as far as county government is concerned and in the way county employees are treated,” he said.
Helms hasn’t talked with any of the other commissioners about the new law passed by the legislature.
“I don’t regret any vote I ever made,” Helms said. “I did what I thought was best for the county.”
Helms said he is concerned about one faction trying to control everything the county does.
“I really don’t have much use for these guys,” he said. “It’s just politics.”
Morgan responded, “What an unfortunate tone he has taken. It has no basis in fact and appears to be nothing more than sour grapes.”
The Pilot was unable to reach Michael Holden for comment.
Lame-Duck Actions Feared
In separate interviews, McKenzie and Holden said they asked Morgan to introduce legislation because of concerns that the lame-duck chairman and his two supporters, commissioners Bob Ewing and David Cummings, would try to take actions with which they and Saunders do not agree.
Michael Holden compared the possible actions of the lame-duck board to those taken by President Clinton during the final weeks of his administration. He said he would oppose imposing the additional half-cent sales tax as a measure to balance the budget, which is off $3 million because the legislature has not included local government reimbursements in the new state budget.
McKenzie said he was concerned that the current Board of Commissioners might approve a renewed request by the town of Carthage to extend its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction,
The Pilot has learned that Carthage did resubmit its request but has since withdrawn it.
The commissioners have been split along a 3-2 line in recent months, with Helms, Ewing and Cummings siding against Holden and McKenzie on a number of votes on such issues as control of the Moore County Airport, the sale of the Pinehurst water and sewer system and granting Southern Pines permission to extend its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction.
The board’s Sept. 16 vote to approve the request from Southern Pines may have triggered the local bill being sought.
During that meeting, McKenzie charged that the county had agreed to the zoning extension in exchange for a long-range contract for purchase of water. And last week, McKenzie told The Pilot of his fears that the Southern Pines jurisdiction extension will encroach on the customer base of the budding East Moore Water District and will endanger the district’s financial standing.
But Helms said Friday that no deal was made with Southern Pines.
Helms said that he and Cummings met with Southern Pines Mayor Frank Quis and Town Manager Kyle Sonnenberg a few months ago to talk about the situation involving possible overlapping lines between the second phase of the East Moore Water District and the town’s water service district.
“We agreed that everyone who was eligible could sign up (for Phase II),” Helms said. “Then we would get together and work out the places where it would be more cost-effective to run the lines, either from our district or from the town.”
Expires Dec. 2
For a number of years, the county has purchased water from Southern Pines to supplement the county system, the largest user being the village of Pinehurst. The agreement with the town dates back to the days when the county system was owned and operated by the now-defunct Moore Water and Sewer Authority.
The board split 3-2 in rejecting an offer from the Pinehurst Village Council to buy its water and sewer system.
The issue could be revisited once Saunders joins the board. One of her campaign pledges was to support the village’s attempts to buy its water system from the county.
The board also voted 3-2 to try and take over operation of the Moore County Airport from an independent authority. Members of the authority sued the county and a judge ordered the county to relinquish control of the airport to the authority.
The new law will expire Dec. 2 when Saunders, Holden and Cummings take the oath of office for four-year terms on the board. Holden defeated Wiley Barrett in the primary. None face Democratic opposition in November.
