Turning the screw
State government scribe Mark Binker is monitoring the latest events in what's become a 13-month legal-and-electoral battle for a seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.
He'll have more in tomorrow's paper.
Today's installment is a hearing before a superior court judge in Raleigh. Commissioner Trudy Wade's attorney will tell the judge that a recount of provisional ballots was conducted incorrectly. The lawyer for challenger John Parks will say the recount went just fine.
The recount, conducted by the Guilford County Board of Elections this spring and largely upheld by the state elections board in September, left Parks ahead by 90 votes. A state Supreme Court decision has already resulted in hundreds of ballots being thrown out, but Wade wants even more discarded.
At some point, the judge will issue a ruling. If he sides with Parks, the Democratic candidate could be certified the winner and take office, ending what's likely the nation's last remaining election dispute from 2004.
But more appeals from Wade, a Republican, could block that. Her attorney has given every indication that he'll take this thing back to the state Supreme Court, if necessary.
Update, 4:52 p.m.: The judge ruled for Parks. Wade plans to appeal. Look for more in tomorrow's N&R.