Parker
A three-member panel has ruled that District Attorney Michael Parker is a resident of Richmond County and is eligible to run for office in the May primary.
The unanimous decision released Thursday came from representatives from the three counties Parker represents.
The five-page decision consists of 18 findings of fact by the panel including Parker’s property holdings in Richmond and Moore counties, corroborating evidence of Parker’s testimony that his primary residence is in Marston and that an investigation into his status as a Richmond County resident was conducted by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office from December 2009 to January 2010.
“The challenger contends that Mr. Parker has not abandoned residency in Moore County at the Terrace Ridge Farm,” the order reads. “The preponderance of evidence shows, however, that Mr. Parker’s domicile before his residency at (redacted address), Marston, N.C., was at (redacted address) Rockingham, N.C. He abandoned that domicile when he sold the home and moved to (redacted address).”
The Daily Journal chose to redact the street number of Parker’s home from its reports due to the nature of his job prosecuting criminals.
“The preponderance of the evidence further shows that Mr. Parker acquired a new domicile at (Marston) in 2004 and actually resides at that place at the present time,” it continues. “Mr. Parker has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that he intends to make his domicile at (Marston) a permanent domicile.”
The decision also states an investigative log of Parker’s comings and goings in Marston, and the testimony of his neighbors which went along with his contention that he spends weekdays in Marston and weekends in Moore County.
The decision also acknowledges Parker’s testimony his wife and two sons spend the majority of their time on the family farm in Moore County, but he considers it a secondary residence.
The challenge to Parker’s candidacy was first filed by Lilesville resident Faye Gathings at the Anson County Board of Elections on Feb. 25.
Parker testified at the hearing that he has been a resident of Richmond County since “about 2001,” and has lived in Marston since 2004.
Parker was appointed to the vacant office of North Carolina Prosecutorial District 20A District Attorney by the Easley Administration in 2004, then was elected to a full-term in 2006.
He is seeking another four years as the lead prosecutor in Richmond, Anson and Stanly counties in 2010.
Parker faces a challenge from fellow Democrat Reece Saunders in the May primary. No Republican candidate registered for the election.
Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.
Sadly, I think louisblong's post does mean EXACTLY what it implies.
Watching this waste of taxpayer dollars has provided a sad commentary on the Good 'Ole Boy Style of Richmond County politics. While Mr. Parker and his family have shown the high nature of their character throughout this, I believe the assaults on him are just beginning.
Mark my words, the desperation of those, like Sheriff Furr, who want to control the judicial system in Richmond Co. is only going to become more evident, and I anticipate further low-ball, dirty campaign tactics and rumors to be employed against Mr. Parker.
It will be interesting to see how those efforts play out.
Thank you, CC, for the quality and insight of your posts. You certainly raise interesting questions that have yet to be answered by Parker's opponents.
I hope your post doesn't really mean what it implies.
Now that the obvious has been affirmed by the Board of Elections, that Michael Parker is a resident of Richmond County, is Mr. Saunders going to campaign?
Now that an attempt to leave Mr. Saunders an uncontested candidate (leaving no other candidate to consider) failed the voters will actually be able to choose.
That sounds more like the America I love than what looks like an effort by a few to derail the political process our Founding Fathers had in mind.
I support Michael Parker, an experienced prosector who has proven his integrity, character, and transparency.
I do not support career criminal attorney Mr. Saunders.
Let the voters decide!
Support, Reese Saunders for D A
louis