Politics

NC Dem chairman defies governor, refuses to resign in wake of sex scandal

Matthew Boyle Investigative Reporter
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Despite North Carolina Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue and chorus of other high-profile politicians from his own party demanding his resignation amid a sexual harassment scandal that caused his executive director to quit, North Carolina Democratic Party chairman David Parker is refusing to resign.

Parker claims that “there was no cover-up and that the personnel matter was professionally and appropriately handled by the Party’s attorney using the highest ethical standards.”

In a Wednesday statement, Parker said, “there will be a meeting of the State Executive Committee in Raleigh on Sunday, June 17, 2012, the day after our State Convention, which I will Chair.”

Refusing to comply with the governor’s call for his resignation, Parker added, “At that SEC meeting we will, in addition to the conduct of regular business, hold elections for all Party office vacancies and hold a referendum on the State Party Chair, which I will not conduct. If there are multiple candidates for State Chair, we will have an election. If there is a single candidate, there will be an acclamation.”

Essentially, that means Parker is willing to hold a special election for his chairmanship in June, that he’ll likely be running in it and that there’s a possibility no other candidates will run against him.

It’s unclear why Parker is choosing to go against his party’s top-ranking officials. “With so many top Democrats in the state calling for his resignation, this comes as a bit of a surprise,” North Carolina Republican Party spokesman Rob Lockwood told TheDC.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz, Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse and Obama re-election campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt have not returned any of TheDC’s requests for comment on the issue. (SEE ALSO: Perdue admits first learning about Dem sexual harassment allegations ‘late last year’)

Even so, Obama is scheduled to visit North Carolina next Tuesday. “Next week we’ll find out whether or not he has the support of President Obama,” said Lockwood.

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