Ada M. Fisher, MD, MPH, NC Republican National Committeewoman
To the Editor,
The reported firing of the county’s assistant registrar based solely on her filing to run for the position of registrar if true is wrong. As desperately as we need fresh ideas and new faces in politics, we should not discourage folks from running simply because they already work in government or if in filing may run against their boss.
Everyone should have the right to run for any seat; however, if they win, they should be required to resign from positions which put them in conflict with their existing employment, i.e. if it puts them in the supervisory line of succession of that where emloyed. A County Commissioner in essence supervises the budget for all local government jobs. If elected to that position, teachers and other government employees are in the line of succession for salaries per work of the commission and have a built in conflict of interest. As such it is my opinion that they should not be allowed to serve simultaneously in these positions while on the County Commission. If the law allows such then the conflicts will continue and the law should be changed.
No one should be penalized for filing to run for office on the fear that they will lose their jobs or if they are unsuccessful in their elected quest should not be subjected to harassment.
