Be aware, Constitutional amendment on Nov. 2 ballot
By Sybil Stafford
On the Nov. 2 ballot in NC is a referendum for a “Constitutional amendment providing that no person convicted of a felony may serve as Sheriff.” For or Against? The actual law will read “No person is eligible to serve as Sheriff if that person has been convicted of a felony against this State, the United States, or another state, whether or not that person has been restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. Convicted of a felony includes the entry of a plea of guilty: a verdict or finding of guilt by a judge, magistrate, or other adjudicating body, tribunal, or official, either civilian or military: or a plea of no contest, nolo contendere, or the equivalent.” The bill was sponsored by Rep. Sutton of District 47 and ratified July 1, 2010.
At first this seems like a good idea but after much thought I decided that it is a dreadful idea.
First: It is our civic duty to vet who we are voting for, preferably before the primary so we have the best person running for the office.
Second: We live in a country that is passing so many laws it is almost impossible to not break a law in normal daily life. Example: When you are born in this country if you do nothing you have broken a law because you have not bought health insurance.
Third: In Arizona Sheriff Arpaio is being investigated and sued by the federal government for enforcing the illegal immigration laws. He is a good sheriff that the government is trying to destroy.
Fourth: I believe there could be a situation where a corrupt sheriff would set up a good person whom he believed is going to run against him. Have him arrested and convicted by his cronies. And as mentioned in my third reason it could be any other branch of local, state or federal government.
Fifth: People have run for sheriff that are felons before and they were not elected. County governments are small areas where it is easy to find out about the people running, and the opponent will absolutely let everyone know that the person running against him is felon. The system works, we do not need a Constitutional Amendment to fix what is not broke.
Matthew Lyon served in the Fifth and Sixth Congresses of the United States (March 4,1797 – March 3, 1801). In 1798 he was found guilty of violating the Alien and Sedition Acts. His violation was he had criticized President John Adams. He was sentenced to four months in jail and a $1000 fine. While in jail he was elected to the Sixth Congress and his constituency paid his fine. In 1800 he cast the deciding vote for Thomas Jefferson for President when the election went before the House of Representatives because of an electoral tie.
We are not Homer Simpson! We can think for ourselves! We must keep the option to decide this matter for ourselves. The system has not failed us so why change it?
This amendment should be debated. People should not go blindly to the polls and vote without thinking about this.
http://triad.ncfreedom.us/2010/09/29/be-aware-constitutional-amendment-on-nov-2-ballot/
Showing posts with label Sheriff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheriff. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
EARLY VOTING IN NC HAS BEGUN!
North Carolina Elections News
(Note: While this sounds like a common sense YES, be aware that this could be abused very easily, and be used to eliminate someone who has made mistakes and repented, or been cleared at a later time. Also, a sitting Sheriff, could certainly "make a situation" for a rival challenger.)
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
PRESS RELEASE
September 2, 2010
Elaine F. Marshall
For Immediate Release Secretary of State
Contact: Liz Proctor (919) 807-2154
Constitutional Amendment on November Ballot
Raleigh – When North Carolina voters go to the polls on November 2, they will find more than
candidates’ names on their ballots. They also will be voting on a constitutional amendment that could affect the names on future ballots.
The 2010 General Assembly approved a measure (Session Law 2010-49) that would ban convicted felons from serving as sheriffs in North Carolina.
The proposed amendment to Article VII, Section 2 of the North Carolina Constitution would add language stating that individuals convicted of a felony in North Carolina or any other state would be ineligible to serve as a sheriff in North Carolina whether or not his or her rights of citizenship have been restored.
The General Assembly also approved the language that voters will see on the ballot this fall as they consider this constitutional amendment:
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment providing that no person convicted of a felony may serve as Sheriff.
The Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission, chaired by Secretary of State Elaine F.
Marshall, has approved language for an official explanation of the proposed amendment that can be provided to voters to assist them in understanding the amendment.
Secretary Marshall urges voters to take time to consider the amendment.
“The Constitution of North Carolina belongs to the people of North Carolina. As with every proposed constitutional amendment, the voters have an important opportunity here to carefully consider this proposed change and cast their ballots according to the facts and to their personal beliefs.”
Here is the official explanation adopted by the Commission:
The North Carolina Constitution says that voters must elect a county Sheriff. It does not say who is eligible to serve as county Sheriff.
The proposed Amendment to the Constitution says who is not eligible to serve as a county Sheriff. The Amendment says that convicted felons are not eligible to serve as county Sheriff.
A convicted felon is someone who has been found guilty or who has pled guilty to a serious crime called a felony. A felony is a crime that may lead to imprisonment. A person convicted of a felony may lose certain rights. For example, a person who is convicted of a felony may lose the right to vote, the right to carry a firearm, and other privileges.
If the majority of voters vote “FOR” for the Amendment, a convicted felon will not be eligible to be a County Sheriff in North Carolina.
If the majority of voters vote “AGAINST” the Amendment, a convicted felon will be eligible to be a County Sheriff in North Carolina.
This explanation was provided to each North Carolina county board of elections. For copies, people may contact their county board of elections, the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, or visit the Secretary of State’s Office online at www.sosnc.com.
-30-
www.sosnc.com
P.O. Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
(Note: While this sounds like a common sense YES, be aware that this could be abused very easily, and be used to eliminate someone who has made mistakes and repented, or been cleared at a later time. Also, a sitting Sheriff, could certainly "make a situation" for a rival challenger.)
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
PRESS RELEASE
September 2, 2010
Elaine F. Marshall
For Immediate Release Secretary of State
Contact: Liz Proctor (919) 807-2154
Constitutional Amendment on November Ballot
Raleigh – When North Carolina voters go to the polls on November 2, they will find more than
candidates’ names on their ballots. They also will be voting on a constitutional amendment that could affect the names on future ballots.
The 2010 General Assembly approved a measure (Session Law 2010-49) that would ban convicted felons from serving as sheriffs in North Carolina.
The proposed amendment to Article VII, Section 2 of the North Carolina Constitution would add language stating that individuals convicted of a felony in North Carolina or any other state would be ineligible to serve as a sheriff in North Carolina whether or not his or her rights of citizenship have been restored.
The General Assembly also approved the language that voters will see on the ballot this fall as they consider this constitutional amendment:
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment providing that no person convicted of a felony may serve as Sheriff.
The Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission, chaired by Secretary of State Elaine F.
Marshall, has approved language for an official explanation of the proposed amendment that can be provided to voters to assist them in understanding the amendment.
Secretary Marshall urges voters to take time to consider the amendment.
“The Constitution of North Carolina belongs to the people of North Carolina. As with every proposed constitutional amendment, the voters have an important opportunity here to carefully consider this proposed change and cast their ballots according to the facts and to their personal beliefs.”
Here is the official explanation adopted by the Commission:
The North Carolina Constitution says that voters must elect a county Sheriff. It does not say who is eligible to serve as county Sheriff.
The proposed Amendment to the Constitution says who is not eligible to serve as a county Sheriff. The Amendment says that convicted felons are not eligible to serve as county Sheriff.
A convicted felon is someone who has been found guilty or who has pled guilty to a serious crime called a felony. A felony is a crime that may lead to imprisonment. A person convicted of a felony may lose certain rights. For example, a person who is convicted of a felony may lose the right to vote, the right to carry a firearm, and other privileges.
If the majority of voters vote “FOR” for the Amendment, a convicted felon will not be eligible to be a County Sheriff in North Carolina.
If the majority of voters vote “AGAINST” the Amendment, a convicted felon will be eligible to be a County Sheriff in North Carolina.
This explanation was provided to each North Carolina county board of elections. For copies, people may contact their county board of elections, the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, or visit the Secretary of State’s Office online at www.sosnc.com.
-30-
www.sosnc.com
P.O. Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
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