There are a lot of consequences flowing from District 4 Guilford County Commissioner Alan Branson’s decision to contest the election results.
Those results saw his Democratic opponent – Mary Beth Murphy – win by 72 votes in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election.
One of those is that Murphy will not get sworn in on Monday morning, Dec. 7, and another likely consequence is that Commissioner Skip Alston won’t get a unanimous vote in his quest to become chairman of the Board of Commissioners that day.
If tensions on the board aren’t too strained when December rolls around each year, the entire board of nine members often vote in favor of the chair – even if he or she is a member of the opposing party. Alston, who is expected to be elected chairman of the board Monday morning, may have had that honor if Murphy were on the board. Murphy, a Democrat like Alston, was expected to vote in support of Alston.
However, Branson – one of Alston’s staunchest opponents on the board – said this week that he would not be voting for Alston to be chairman – and he added that one reason he wants to stay on the board is to be a voice against all of the ill-conceived moves Alston will make as chairman.
“I am going to be a thorn in his side,” Branson said.
Branson said there is no question that the Democrats on the board would vote to make Alston chairman and he added that he believes Alston could have had a good shot at winning that seat unanimously if not for his, Branson’s, extended stay.
Alston said this week that he was going to ask Branson for his support, however, Alston acknowledged that that may be a shot in the dark.
Ol’ Skip has backed enough protests in his day. He shouldn’t have anything to say. Whether Branson wins or loses isn’t the point, he has the right to protest and is following the established procedures. If by some stroke of luck he does end up winning it will be funny as hell to watch. Branson should show up in his jeans & prop his boots on the dais while smoking a big cigar.
Alston is crooked as they come. His concerns are power and money. And the financial fiasco of the civil rights museum.
The Guilford County Board of Elections is NOT consistent about allowing an elected official to stay and serve on that board until a protest and/or appeal is completed. So sorry that Branson feels his only roll is to be a thorn in county business. Congratulations to the newly elected county board members is in order. Best wishes.
How the hell is Skip Alston still even a commissioner? He is as crooked as they come.. living in his fenced mansion while he rents dumps to people
It seems that the Dems in the county got their way and will have Skip plus minions to STICK it to the citizens of Guilford County. You people have 2 years to get your act together and round up some good candidates(not Dems).Why would the good people of Guilford County vote in Dems anyway.