Update on Recall Bill & Raleigh Assembly

When Talking to GA Reps, you must Bring the Receipts

I did not plan in writing this piece today. As I noted, I do not want to bombard you with many posts when one post covering a myriad of topics will do. I do not want to clutter your inbox.

Then yesterday, my phone rang off the hook all morning. Raleigh called. Over and over.

As many who have read this substack since the first post on Brunswick County and the dirty dealings there, I have been in this state since the 90s. What you may not have known is that I spent a lot of time at the General Assembly. So, I know how the Assembly works, and I have a lot of friends there. I have spoken to legislators and their staff. As time went on, I assisted a candidate for governor on his staff. He lost, but the point is I have a rather good idea the history and the political realities of this state.

Recall Bill

Let’s start with the bill, H1062.

As I noted briefly yesterday, the bill appears stuck in committee, but it is not “stuck” it has not even been heard. In fact, no bill has been heard in the Local Government committee. Why is that? Because the GA is busy taking care of the most important thing for the state—the budget. That comes first, then the rest of the bills will be considered.

Do not expect the committee to hold a hearing on the recall bill until June…at earliest.

Another thing to keep in mind is that NC does not have a full time legislature (you can thank the Lord for this). That means we have a part-time legislature. If you are expecting the legislature (or the representative you are calling) to jump when you call—then you do not understand the way this state works. Furthermore, if you call and expect to get the actual representative, you are living in a fantasy. It is more beneficial for you to speak to the LA or legal council on staff than the actual representative. Why? Because those are the people that have time to listen to you. They are also the people who will convey favorably or unfavorably the substance of your communication.

Before you jump to a conclusion, this is the way it is EVERYWHERE in the states and in the Halls of Congress (where I have been as well). Act accordingly.

If you want to get a sense of what is happening in this state, then maybe start reading (or listening to the Podcast from) the News & Observer, called Under the Dome. Now you should know the N&O is a crap, Democrat “newspaper,” but you will get a sense of what is going on topic wise at the GA. That will be helpful to you.

Speaking to Raleigh

Speaking of the recall bill: Many people from Leland have called the state and the representatives for the area.

If you are calling Iler and Rabon, you should know a few things.

While we might be pissed off at the Leland Council (I certainly am) do not transfer that ire to the GA. Our reps in the GA have not caused Leland to act like a bunch of criminals, and there is nothing they can do about, say, the baseball stadium. That is up to US to deal with. The state is not omnipotent. It is up to us to be responsible for the governance of this town.

So when you call them, be congenial.

Iler did his job, and submitted a recall bill. He served his constituents well in this manner. You might not like the bill, you may think it is not perfect, but if you hound Iler and Rabon about changing the bill, I can tell you, you will kill the bill. Iler submitted the bill, but let’s say that for whatever reason Rabon objects to it—the bill will be dead. DEAD. How? Partly out of deference to other members, but also because, if you have not paid attention, Rabon sits on the Rules committee. You also might want to look at Rabon’s district—it includes more than Brunswick County.

Further: if you call your representative, and you state a fact that is not true—that is not an accurate fact—you will be immediately discounted, and ineffectual. You will not be listened to, and your calls will fall on deaf ears. If you cannot bring the receipts that are accurate, you will undermine your cause.

You have to be a reliable constituent. If you merely spout hearsay evidence without actual evidence, then you will not be an effective citizen lobbyist. Take your time, get the facts, and foia the town of Leland for the evidence if you need to. Then make sure whatever you are claiming is clear and precise, and of course, TRUE.

Let me give you an example: I think that the most important problem with the Leland council is their flaunting in the face of the state ban on forced annexation. I firmly believe the council is engaged in a criminal act of bribery, quid pro quo, end around of the law that I had a hand in supporting. So, when I have spoken to the legislature about this, I have not just numerous news stories backing me up, but, the actual acts and memorandums of the council demonstrating they are,

1. Ending around the annexation ban by going to one person (a developer) to petition the city to annex (because when many people move into a development they will NOT want to be annexed by this crummy town, and,

2. Conveniently giving said developer money after the annexation. One time, they annexed and gave money in the same meeting.

This is all verifiable. The proof is public. And, the act is potentially criminal and justiciable. Further, this is an issue that involves the state directly since it banned forced annexation and Leland is violating the spirit of state law.

Matters like local taxes, baseball stadiums, city roads, etc., etc., are not state business, except where state regulated.

That means the lion’s share of the crappy politics we are facing is a local concern, and not a concern of the state. What are the options? It is simple. You have two choices. Vote them out, or move. That’s it.

Iler submitted a bill. He did his duty. I like the bill overall. It gave the citizens some authority to change out corrupt council members. I will support the bill as is even though I want more. Why? You think the left got everything they wanted immediately? See my post from yesterday—they were patient to get all they wanted, and took what they could get in increment.

We must do the same.

I also want to add this: As the bill is in committee, other members may ADD things to it to suit THEIR constituents. Of course you can voice (nicely) your agreement or disagreement to whatever is added, but rest assured, this will happen.

Another thing to note: The next local election is 2025. Even if there was a rush to pass the recall bill, guess when we would have the actionable opening to recall them? 2025. So, be mindful of all this, and give the representatives in Raleigh a bit of a break. If you do not, you will get nothing. You might be right in your anger, and feelings of betrayal by the Leland town council, but you never want to be Dead Right—that is getting nothing of what you want.

In the meantime, by all means, talk like you are around your kitchen table—I will continue to do so on this substack. But, even if I was before the council speaking, I would moderate my tone. Why? Because the council meeting is not my kitchen table. This substack is a view of my table, and therefore, if politicians do not like the tone, they can pound sand. If politicans do not like the tone here, hey, they can move to another state too. Be my guest.

But if you want something to be done, then be mindful of how you ask from people who are, frankly, generally supportive. Do not turn state reps into enemies. They are doing all they can on this particular issue at the moment.

We do not live in New York, as I have noted. NC is a different state, with a different people, with a particular way of working, and a different native people who have a different character. If you moved here, and expect NC to be like NY politics, you, frankly, moved to the wrong state. As I have noted in this substack, take more time if you are new here, to learn about this state. If you do not, there will be no political alliance between you and the people who have lived and died here for a lot longer than you. And you need the natives to win politically. I cannot emphasize this enough.

You want to correct the corruptions of Leland? Then to be honest, we must fight for it. Frankly, we voted these clowns into office. If you are pissed, look in mirror. We did not hold them accountable and ask tough questions when they were up for office. In the end, Raleigh certainly knows this. You should too.

We dug this hole, now we have to dig ourselves out.