Oh, What a Tangled Web They Did Weave

Legislative News by Nelda Holder –

But let’s go back to the beginning.

In its infinite “wisdom,” the Republican majority in the North Carolina General Assembly saw fit last year to usurp a relatively smooth-running, state-level Board of Elections that was appointed traditionally by the governor, and inexplicably attach the board appointments to the state auditor.

Maybe I think too simply. But my brain could not quite establish a link between the office of auditor and the choice and appointment of members of such an all-important, state-elections-centered board. Was it because votes come tallied in numbers? Was it because the governor of the state should not be expected to consciously and conspicuously select the members of this particular board? If not, why not?

But no, good enough was not good enough. Having this incredibly important board constituted and scrutinized at the attention level of the governor’s office would not do. Let’s move it to … the state auditor’s job list. After all, it ultimately involves numbers, doesn’t it?

Just out of naughty curiosity, I took a peek at the website for the OSA (Office of State Auditor) and found this published description of its purpose:

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is your fiscal watchdog. We audit more than $100 billion in state assets and liabilities each year, bringing transparency to local, state, and federal government. Our report and findings include recommendations that result in good government reforms.

Money. State money. It is the auditor’s job to track billions of dollars in state assets and liabilities and bring “transparency to local, state, and federal government.” Not one mention of watchdogging votes in the state’s elections. Just the state’s billions of dollars. And it seems like that’s enough of a job.

So why was North Carolina suddenly the only state in the nation to have its state election board planted in the financial soil of the state auditor’s office instead of the statewide political arm of the chief politician in the state: the governor? Whose idea was that? And just who had the power to pull it off?

Remnants of a Hurricane

You remember Hurricane Helene. I make that as a declarative statement, since that was not a forgettable event. Well, in the wake of legislative wrangling to come up with additional financial assistance to jump start recovery in western North Carolina, a relief bill in late 2024 lit up like the proverbial legislative Christmas tree. The aid bill suddenly fulfilled a Republican fantasy to take away the power of the Democratic governor to name the NCBOE members and pass it over to the Republican auditor of the state, Dave Boliek.

Try to follow the logic of that. An all-important state board that operates at the heart of the state’s elected management and must serve the entire state with utmost care and dedication was removed from its premier appointment status under the governorship of the state, and given over to a state official whose expertise and concentration is focused on the financial condition of our government. This was not logical.

It was, however, politically possible. And so it came to pass that on May 1, 2025, Auditor Dave Boliek became responsible for the budgeting for and appointments to the State Board of Elections. The existing SBOE went from a membership of three Democrats and two Republicans, to the exact opposite—which favored Republicans despite a Democratic governorship.

[Ed. Note: Since 1901—125 years ago—every NC governor, regardless of party, has had the right to name the Board of Elections.]

And now we have an example of what could go wrong. Forward to March 5, 2026, and an article by Fox 8 News describing how “A member of the North Carolina State Board of Elections has resigned after Rockingham County Sheriff and state Senate hopeful Sam Page mentioned him by name during a news conference on election integrity concerns.”

The resignation under scrutiny was that of Bob Rucho, a former state senator who was named to the Board of Elections last May by Auditor Dave Boliek. According to several news reports, Rucho had evidently crossed the BOE’s ethical line: evidence was reported that he had made campaign contributions to two county sheriff candidates, and had made public statements supporting the reelection of a prominent state senator, Majority Leader Phil Berger, Jr. Either action by a SBOE member violates North Carolina law.

Granted, there is not a direct link discernable in the allegation of malfeasance of board ethics, but the point that is easily taken is that the unnecessary disruption and removal from an established norm for this state board carried unnecessary risks.

Meanwhile, Boliek—the person responsible for managing all the state’s money—released this statement on the incident: “I’m thankful for Bob Rucho’s service on the State Board of Elections. He led on election integrity and helped make it easy to vote and hard to cheat in North Carolina. This office has high standards for its board members, and Angela Hawkins will continue the good work being done by the State Board. She brings valuable experience, having served as chair of the elections board of North Carolina’s largest county.” (Hawkins is from Wake County.)

Other Primary Election Notes

In conjunction with the above story, it is with both eyebrows raised that I’ve followed the news of that Rockingham County primary race for Republican state senator. In appearance it’s about as classic as it gets.

The powerful NC Senate leader Phil Berger and (I swear it) the made-for-TV Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (yes, the man BOE member Bob Rucho made negative comments about that caused him to resign!) wound up on election night separated by two—count ’em!—TWO votes in their race for the upcoming Senate seat election.

And amazingly, those two votes belonged to Page—not the long-serving and very powerful Berger. With provisional ballots counted, Page’s temporary majority grew, and as of March 10 had reached 23—with a few, a very few, overseas and military ballots still to be counted.

Now, for the second time in a week, Page has called on Boliek to recuse himself from overseeing the Board of Elections. “You know, he was up in my county during the early voting doing a news conference with my opponent at a polling site,” Page said. “That just shows a total conflict of interest.”

Stay tuned on this one! There could indeed be a new sheriff in town. (Groan. I know. But I couldn’t resist.)

Nelda Holder is the author of The Thirteenth Juror – Ferguson: A Personal Look at the Grand Jury Transcripts.