Wayne Week — Oct. 13, 2024

N E W OL D NORT H M E DI A PR E SE N T S A W E E K LY N E WS M AG A Z I N E

O C T OBE R 13, 2 024

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I'm just the

FIRST AMENDMENT! Goldsboro's mayor pro tem asked an attorney working for the city if a federal judge could be compelled to force Wayne Week to reveal the identity of a confidential source.

BY KEN FINE and RENEE CAREY

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CONTENTS OCTOBER 13, 2024 Volume 2, Issue 8

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EDITORIAL EDITOR Ken Fine EDITOR Renee Carey DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Hallie Hulse Evans ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE McKayla Alves ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lara Landers

4 Worth objects to report

Former Wayne County Sheriff's Office Maj. Christopher Worth has objected to the pre-sentence investigation report a judge will use to guide him as he weighs the penalty for the federal crime Worth pleaded guilty to.

6 City still has no official manager In February, Mayor Charles Gaylor said details about a search for a new city manager would be released in the coming weeks after Tim Salmon resigned. Eight months later, Matthew Livingston still holds the position in an interim capacity — and some council members say it is time to launch a formal search for who will be Goldsboro's permanent chief executive.

8 Early voting primer PUBLISHER

New Old North Media LLC

CONTACTS EDITORS

kfine@newoldnorth.com rcarey@newoldnorth.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES hevans@newoldnorth.com llanders@newoldnorth.com malves@newoldnorth.com

Wayne County's early voting process begins Thursday, but for those who have not cast a ballot since the state adopted its Voter ID policy, there are some things they need to know before they head to the polls.

10 Our take

In our view, whether or not Matthew Livingston has been an effective interim city manager is not the point. The council still owes the public a formal search to ensure the absolute best person for the job is hired — even if it ends up being the man currently serving as Goldsboro's chief executive.

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14 Cover story

© 2024 NEW OLD NORTH MEDIA LLC All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission.

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WAYNE WEEK (ISSN 2993-9666) is published weekly for $125 per year by New Old North Media, LLC, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC, 27530.

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Goldsboro Mayor Pro Tem has, again, spoken out against the publication of facts

by Wayne Week. This time, she wants a federal judge to lean on the paper to force it to reveal its confidential sources.

Displaced residents — and the volunteers helping them — in Western North Carolina were shown some love by a group of Goldsboro residents.

COVER DESIGN

BY SHAN STUMPF

newoldnorth.com

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NEWS +VIEWS

Worth objects to pre-sentence report

The former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office major is expected to be sentenced at the end of the month after pleading guilty to financial crimes July 24.

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ess than two weeks after his co-conspirator was sentenced to 74 months in federal prison, former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Christopher Worth — who pleaded guilty to federal bid-rigging charges July 24 — has filed an objection to a pre-sentence investigation report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

And while the document, and the grounds for Worth’s objection, are both sealed, its contents are meant to inform Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Myers II as he decides what penalty to impose.

The following information is included in the report along with a “chronological history of the prosecution of the case,” which seems unlikely to be the source of the objection as Worth admitted in open court that the details spelled out in the indictment handed down in August 2023 were, in fact, true.

• Victim Impact — While the Victim Impact section is actually part of the offense conduct for which the defendant is responsible, this information is presented under a separate heading to emphasize its importance and the fact that this section includes the impact on all victims of the offense, regardless of whether the information affects guideline application. An assessment of the financial, social, psychological, and medical impact upon any individual victim of the offense is presented, and any financial losses caused by the conduct in the offense are reported.

• Adjustment for Obstruction of Justice — This section describes any efforts made by the defendant to impede the investigation or prosecution of this case.

• Adjustment for Acceptance of Responsibility — This section contains an assessment of the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility for the offense of conviction.

• Offense Level Computation — This section presents the application and calculation of the sentencing guidelines and includes a short synopsis of facts underlying each application, providing tentative findings for the court. For each count, it identifies the applicable guideline and shows the base offense level and any specific offense characteristics or adjustments that modify the base offense level. In all cases, the guideline application is displaYed, resulting in the total offense level for the case.

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BY KEN FINE AND RENEE CAREY

As of press time, Myers had not updated the court calendar to entertain Worth's objection.

• Offense Behavior Not Part of Relevant Conduct — This section describes criminal behavior that has not been reported in The Offense Conduct section because it is not considered relevant conduct by the guidelines.

This section may include offense behavior described in dismissed counts that is not part of relevant conduct for guideline calculations.

• Juvenile Adjudications — This section contains a report of the defendant’s record of juvenile adjudications of crime or delinquency and diversionary dispositions based on a finding or admission of guilt. Adjudications are included in chronological order, whether or not they are used in calculating the criminal history category under the Guidelines. The value assigned to each sentence under Chapter IV of the guidelines is also shown.

• Criminal Convictions — This section contains a report of the defendant’s adult criminal convictions and those diversions resulting from a guilty plea in a judicial proceeding. It includes a description of the defendant’s prior criminal convictions and dispositions in each case as well as the defendant’s adjustment while incarcerated or under supervision.

• Criminal History Computation — This section displays the calculation of the criminal history category and the basis for the calculation.

• Pending Charges — This section lists any pending charges against the defendant.

This section is omitted if there are no charges.

• Other Criminal Conduct — This section reports reliable information regarding other past criminal conduct which may indicate the

criminal history category does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the defendant’s past criminal conduct, or the defendant’s likelihood to commit future crimes.

• Other Arrests — All other arrests of the defendant are reported in this section in order to provide information to the court regarding the defendant’s contact with law enforcement authorities.

• Offender Characteristics — This part sets forth information relative to the defendant’s personal background. Included is information concerning personal and family data, physical condition, mental and emotional health, substance abuse, education and vocational skills, employment and financial condition, including an assessment of the defendant’s ability to make restitution or pay a fine.

• Sentencing Options — This part sets forth penalties authorized by statute along with the kinds of sentences available under the guidelines. Included are the statutory and guideline provisions for custody, impact of the plea agreement, supervised release, probation, fines, restitution, forfeitures, and for drug offenses, denial of benefits. By presenting the statutory and guideline provisions, the parameters of each may be compared. Guideline sentencing options are found in Chapter V of the Guideline Manual.

• Impact of the Plea Agreement — This part is included in pre-sentence reports that are prepared when a plea agreement has been tendered to the court. The probation officer assesses the impact of the plea agreement

on the guideline sentence by comparing the guidelines applicable under the plea agreement with the guidelines that would apply if the defendant were to plead to all counts.

• Factors That May Warrant Departure — This part contains the probation officer’s statement of “any factors that may indicate that a sentence of a different kind or of a different length from the one within the applicable guideline would be more appropriate under all the circumstances.”

• Factors That May Warrant a Sentence Outside of the Advisory Guideline System — As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling in U.S. v. Booker, a system was developed in which the sentencing courts are required to consider the sentencing options recommended by the sentencing guidelines, but the judges are free to impose any sentence authorized

by Congress. This part contains information identified by the officer as any fact or circumstance addressed in the report that may be relevant to sentencing that was not otherwise considered in the guideline calculations or departure analysis. Since most grounds will have already been considered by the guidelines or policy statements, officers are cautious when identifying these factors.

• Addendum to the Pre-sentence Report — In some courts, the pre-sentence report is disclosed to the defendant, counsel for the defendant, and counsel for the Government before it is submitted to the judge. This procedure allows both counsels to communicate with the probation officer to resolve any concerns or objections regarding material information, sentencing classifications, or the sentencing guideline range contained in the pre-sentence report.

As of press time, Myers had not updated the court calendar to entertain Worth’s objection to the report, but should he handle it the same way he handled the objection to the pre-sentence investigation report of the former deputy’s co-conspirator, Michael Cox, it would be heard during his sentencing hearing later this month.

And whatever his concerns might be, the former major will be sentenced after pleading guilty to a felony that carries with it a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.n

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Eight months later, city manager position still up in the air No search has been launched since former City Manager Tim Salmon and the city parted ways in February.

Some council members want to see one conducted.

BY KEN FINE

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ack in February, Mayor Charles Gaylor informed the public, via a Facebook post, that City Manager Tim Salmon had stepped down — that Assistant City Manager Matthew Livingston had agreed to take on the position in an interim capacity and details about the search for Salmon’s permanent replacement would be forthcoming.

“We will share updates about the search process and next steps in the coming weeks,” he wrote Feb. 13.

Eight months later, Livingston still holds the position — and the interim tag.

No plans for a search have been discussed publicly.

And Monday, despite the fact that several members of the board have said they still expect a formal search to unfold, the council was presented, during a closed session, with a “draft” of a contract that would make Livingston the city’s official chief executive.

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want to limit the pool by asking candidates to come to Goldsboro to clean up “a mess” that included a Finance Department that was still not caught up on its audits.

“Personally, I didn’t want to interview people saying, ‘Your first job is going to be cleaning up our mess,’” Councilwoman Jamie Taylor said. “I mean, who would want to do that?”

Gaylor disagreed.

“But that was the council’s decision,” he said. “It was what it was.”

Since then — now that the city is caught up

A comprehensive search will allow us to evaluate all potential candidates.

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Salmon’s tenure as city manager ended Feb. 13 after what many have described as a “tumultuous” run that the late Mayor Chuck Allen said only began because few people wanted the position — the result, Allen said, of “constant drama” that unfolded during council meetings that were broadcast on the city’s social media accounts.

“What you have to understand is that the people who want to be a city manager, it’s a relatively small, tight-knit group,” he said in November 2020. “But what we found was that there weren’t a whole lot of people who had everything we were looking for because we had some council members who were making it impossible for us to get things done. There was some sort of scene at every meeting, and people in government in North Carolina, they talk.”

And despite the fact that Salmon, according to Allen, lacked the “traditional” qualifications “you’d probably expect” from a manager candidate, he had an “impressive” record of military service — one the then-mayor believed would serve him well in an Air Force community until he “learned the ropes.”

But then, the city lost its bond rating as a result of a failure to fulfill its financial reporting obligations to the state.

Late audits became the norm.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell excoriated 6

city leaders — and called for an investigation into Goldsboro and the practices being utilized inside City Hall.

And when, in January — two years after Folwell called for the probe — the preliminary report came in from the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, several findings led officials to conclude that the city risked leading residents to lose confidence in its government due to lack of oversight by city management, employees abusing their positions, and preferential treatment being of-

fered to elected officials.

Less than a month later, Salmon stepped down.

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Gaylor told Wayne Week Tuesday that his first instinct was to launch a search.

But when he broached the idea — and presented the council with options should they agree to authorize one — it was shot down.

“When we first made the swap off of Tim, I was very strong that it was time to go and do a search,” Gaylor said. “We had search firms — I had two of them, actually — that had given us some pricing information on what that would look like. I took it to council.”

Those council members who spoke to Wayne Week for this story agreed that the reason they were reluctant, back then, to agree to an immediate search was because they did not

on its audits and the board made it through the budget season — there have been “a few” conversations led by Gaylor about how to handle the situation.

“There have been considerable discussions,” the mayor said.

And in his view, the council has indicated it is ready to “move forward” with “negotiating” a contract with Livingston to become the new city manager.

“I do think that folks are happy with how Matt has been serving the city,” Gaylor said.

“I think he’s done some good things with relationships — internally and externally.”

But he also understands that the public might expect the search that was promised.

“It’s a fair question,” he said. “It’s a very fair question.”

Now, it is up to the council to decide which way to go.

“We are coming up on yet another budget cycle, so now do we just simply make the hire or do we search?” Gaylor said. “Frankly, that’s something I’m being pretty assertive with council on. It’s, ‘Folks, I need you to make a decision on either we extend the offer of a contract or start a search.’”

And he vowed to support whatever decision the majority lands on.

“I’m not going to pressure them to make the decision the way that I want them to make it, but I am going to pressure them to make a decision,” he said. “We’ve got to move forward. It is not fair to the professional that we have to continue with the interim tag and it’s not fair to the community to feel that we’re in limbo. That limbo has gone on for too long.”

As for blame for how long it has taken to get to this point?

“It’s no one’s fault,” Gaylor said. “We’ve been dealing with some pretty high-stakes stuff and, frankly, he and the interim assistant manager have navigated those waters quite well. But, I think through those trials, we’ve seen that enough is enough. I think he’s a fantastic option and I think the city would be in very good hands with him, but it’s time for the council to make that decision one way or another.”

And Monday, during closed session, he ensured every council member had a copy of a “draft” of a contract that would make an official designation a reality for Livingston.

Note: That information, which was disclosed by a confidential source who was in the room during the closed session, is not a member of the Goldsboro City Council, and Gaylor was not asked to address it, as his position on information being leaked from executive sessions — that he is not OK with it — has been consistent.

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Councilwoman Hiawatha Jones made it clear Wednesday that she believes a search is the right thing to do to ensure the city ends up with the best manager — even if it ends up being a current employee.

The following is a statement she provided to Wayne Week: “As an elected official and a member of the City Council, I want to clarify that I will

never disclose any information discussed in closed sessions. This comment is rooted in my responsibility to the citizens we serve and is in accordance with the code of ethics that I pledged to uphold,” she wrote. “While I acknowledge that our interim manager may indeed be a suitable candidate for the position, a comprehensive search will allow us to evaluate all potential candidates. This process not only ensures that we find the most qualified individual to lead our city, but also demonstrates our commitment to transparency and due process. Engaging in this search will ultimately benefit our community and help us make an informed decision that aligns with the best interests of the citizens. Through this comprehensive search, if our current interim city manager is selected as our new city manager, I look forward to working with him.”

And now that the city is caught up on its financial reporting obligations to the state — and has, in her view, a “clean slate” — Taylor said that she, too, is open to a search for the “best possible person” for the post.

“Our most important job as a council is to hire the best possible person to run the city.

That’s what our citizens should expect,” she said. “And it’s possible that person is already in City Hall, but we owe it to our people to make sure we are 100 percent sure.”

Councilwoman Beverly Weeks said she would comfortably vote with “the majority.”

“If the majority of the council feels strongly that a search is necessary, I will honor that,” she said. “But I also believe that right now, we have great leadership inside City Hall and I would expect our interim manager to be a frontrunner based on what I have experienced over these many months.”

Councilman Chris Boyette, however, said he believes the money that would be required to launch a formal exploration could be better spent on other things.

“Over these last eight months, I have been pleased with our progress on a variety of issues — from getting our financial house in order to movement on development issues and restoring relationships inside and outside of City Hall. I’m also incredibly pleased with the progress being made on infrastructure projects under his leadership, such as the sewer plant expansion,” he said. “So, for me, I would be against a search because I think we would end up finding out that we have the best candidate running things right now. He’s been proving that since the day he accepted the interim position and honestly, that money could be better spent on behalf of our citizens.”

When asked if they would like to provide a comment for this story, Mayor Pro Tem Brandi Matthews and Councilman Roderick White declined.n

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M AY 26, 2024

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M A RCH 3, 2024

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Wayne

If the Goldsboro City Council adopts the 2024-25 budget recommended by Interim City Manager Matthew Livington, local residents will be forced to absorb a 15-cent property tax increase and a 7-percent water and sewer rate hike, as leaders look for a way to finance police and fire raises.

WEEK

MIND GA M ES

?

Dozens have graduated from the University of Mount Olive’s Master's in Counseling Psychology program, but because it is still not accredited, most are unable to find employment as therapists in North Carolina.

BY K E N F I N E p. 1 4

Budget Buffet

A unanimous decision to move Goldsboro High School to a new building has drawn the ire of community leaders, former students, and teachers who fear the school will soon close for good.

SPECIES? ENDANGERED

BY KEN FINE

/ p. 14

BY K E N F I N E / p. 12

NEWS: Court documents filed last week seem to indicate former WCSO deputy has reached a plea deal . p.6

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F E BU R A RY 18, 2024

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ALSO INSIDE

Wayne

Coram’s lawsuit thrown out / p. 4

WEEK

NEWS Salmon out as City Manager / p. 8

CLIPPED WING? Local leaders say it’s time to fight back after community was “blindsided” by news of cuts coming to 4th Fighter Wing. / by KEN FINE p. 16

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If you have been with Wayne Week since the beginning — or signed up within our first few weeks — you are nearing the end of your 1-year subscription period.

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M AY 12, 2024

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CONTENT WARNING

Some of the information in our cover story could be perceived as graphic in nature and could be upsetting to some readers, including those who might have experienced abuse or sexual assault.

WEEK

THE PROBLEM WITHIN

Two Wayne County public school teachers have been charged with taking indecent liberties with students since Gov. Roy Cooper signed a harsher set of penalties for the crime into law in late 2023.

But those two individuals are only part of a problem the local education community has been dealing with for the last several years.

BY KEN FINE p.12

New Old North Media 219 North John Street Goldsboro, NC 27530

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2024

VOTING GUIDE

E

lection Day might be 22 days away, but Wayne County voters will have more than a dozen other options should they decide to cast a ballot before Tuesday, Nov. 5.

This year, 17 days of early voting are being offered across four locations — two in Goldsboro, one in Fremont, and one in Mount Olive — to ensure every registered voter in the county has an opportunity to let their voice be heard.

And while many election officials have lamented what they consider less-thandesirable turnout in critical local elections that have unfolded in recent years, the percentage typically jumps significantly when the time

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comes to elect a commander in chief.

Back in 2016, 66.86 percent of Wayne’s 76,206 eligible voters cast a ballot in races that included every member of the North Carolina Council of State and a presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Four years later, the number jumped to 73.12 percent when Trump faced off with Joe Biden.

But in years where local races dominated the ballot, tens of thousands of voters stayed home.

In 2018 and 2022, less than 50 percent of county voters took to the polls, despite the fact that several critical positions — from sheriff and clerk of court to seats on the Wayne County Board of Education — were up for grabs.

And when municipal leaders have been chosen over the last eight years, the highest turnout was a mere 17.48 percent when, in 2019, the entire Goldsboro City Council was elected and mayors of the county seat, Mount Olive, and Fremont were also chosen by a meager electorate.

Still, given what unfolded in 2016 and 2020, there is reason to expect a robust turnout in the coming weeks.

But it is worth noting that it will be the first time for many voters — only 6,017 of 41,913 Wayne eligible voters cast ballots in November 2023 after a state Voter ID mandate went into effect — that they will experience the requirements of the law. n

REMEMBER YOUR ID

The following Voter ID requirements will be implemented this year after the N.C. Supreme Court reversed a decision last year that invalidated the state’s Voter ID law as unconstitutional.

In light of the court’s ruling, the following procedures will be implemented this fall:

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A PHOTO ID?

All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a voter ID. When voting, they may:

• Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina.

• Most voters will simply show their NC driver’s license, but many other types of photo ID will be accepted.

• Voters without an ID can get a “No Fee ID Card” from the DMV. • When a voter is asked for their ID, a poll worker will check to see if the picture on the ID reasonably resembles the voter, but the address on the photo ID does not have to match the voter registration records.

• All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. If the voter does not show an acceptable ID, they may vote with an ID Exception Form and a provisional ballot or vote with a provisional ballot and return to the Wayne County Board of Elections office with their photo ID by the day before the county canvass.

• Permitted exceptions to the photo ID requirement include a voter with a reasonable impediment to showing photo ID — lack of transportation, lost or stolen ID, disability or illness, family responsibilities, etc. — or if the voter has a religious objection to being photographed or was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days of Election Day. • When a registered voter cannot produce a photo ID, the Board of Elections must count that ballot if the voter properly completes the ID Exception Form or brings an acceptable ID to its office before the canvass.

Complete an ID Exception Form

Vote with a provisional ballot, and...

On the form, the voter will choose from the following permitted exceptions:

Bring acceptable ID to the county elections by the day before county canvass

• A "reasonable impediment" preventing them from showing ID. • A religious objection to being photographed.

• A victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day

LONGER HOURS. FOUR LOCATIONS

• Photo ID is not required for military or overseas voters who vote, pursuant to special absentee voting procedures that federal law makes available for such voters.

Local races — from Wayne County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners’ seats to the Register of Deeds — are on the ballot.

So, too, are the most consequential posts in the state, including governor.

And on the national scene? The 47th President of the United States will be elected in the coming weeks.

The following is Wayne County’s early voting schedule — and the addresses of each voting location.

As always, we encourage every eligible voter to make their voices heard.

THE FOLLOWING FORMS OF ID WILL BE ACCEPTED

Thursday, October 17

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 18

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 19

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, October 20

12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• State ID, also known as a “non-operator ID”

Monday, October 21

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• NC Voter ID Card, issued by the DMV and/or the Board of Elections

Tuesday, October 22

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• College/University Student ID

Wednesday, October 23

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Charter School Employee ID

Thursday, October 24

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• State/Local Government Employee ID

Friday, October 25

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Driver’s License from another state

Saturday, October 26

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, October 27

12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, October 28

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 29

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 30

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 31

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 1

8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 2

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Voters who vote by mail will be asked to include a photocopy of an acceptable ID inside the photo ID envelope that comes with their ballot. If they are unable to include a photocopy of their ID, they may complete an ID Exception Form with the absentee ballot return envelope.

• North Carolina Driver’s License • U.S. Passport • U.S. Passport Card

PRECINCT LOCATIONS

• Wayne County Public Library 1001 East Ash St., Goldsboro, NC 27530 • Maxwell Center 3114 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, 27534 • Old Fremont School 204 West Carolina Street, Fremont, 27830 • Mount Olive Train Depot 110 West Main Street, Mount Olive, 28365 newoldnorth.com

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{ our TAKE }

T

here are a lot of nervous officeholders these days. Bottom line, they don’t like that you can get access to the real, behind-the-scenes deal-making — and sometimes the discussions that lead to misspent funds and other bad decisions — that seem to have become a significant part of all levels of government and politicking these days.

They would rather keep their dealings secret, to have their discussions behind closed doors.

It’s just easier than explaining their sometimes-incomprehensible decisions to the public.

But making that happen is getting harder.

Good, honest, hardworking people in government are starting to talk when they are frustrated by what they see behind the curtains.

Said differently, the word is getting out.

And as you can imagine, that is not what those who have gotten used to unfettered power like to see.

It’s a threat when someone starts asking questions, when records seem to find their way into the right hands, and when intimidation, threats and a good, old-fashioned tantrum don’t stop the leaks because there are some people who love their city, county, state, and country — or school district — too much to sit back and watch them burn.

The politicians and others who try to control information, who label everything “dangerous” or “misinformation,” they are not doing so because they are really worried about the community or the people they serve.

They do not have a powerful sense of right and wrong when it comes to the free expression of ideas or the checks and balances of our system that are supposed to hold them accountable.

They are the ones who know, deep down, that they are not really the Great and Powerful Oz, but merely small-time manipulators who are making bank behind the scenes or who, perhaps, are really enjoying the three P’s — power, perks, and privilege — that go along with their cushiony bureaucratic gig.

They don’t want the public to be able to get too close a look because that leads to questions they don’t want to answer.

Transparency is their kryptonite.

So, if over the next few weeks, you hear more comments from sitting politicians about the need to rein in those who are shining a light on what they are doing — and who think that limiting the ability of anyone to ask questions or to release information is the way to go to keep a country, a state, a county, or a city on the right track — be wary.

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Transparency Needed

Controlled information is the first sign of a government that is no longer for the people.

And those who toss around comments like “there should be limits on free speech” or who decide that those who hold a different viewpoint or who ask too many questions are dan-

gerous, well, they are part of the problem.

There is a reason free speech is the bedrock of our constitutional republic, and why a relentless press that questions both sides and asks the tough questions is so critically important.

Those who risk their jobs and their liveli-

hoods to make sure you know what is going on in your city, county, state, and country, well, they are heroes.

It is not easy being a whistleblower.

And ANY politician, bureaucrat, or career-anything who decides that limiting what you — the taxpayer, and their boss — need to see and hear, well he or she needs to be tossed out on their ear.

Absolute power, without accountability, corrupts absolutely. And an unexamined governing body gets out of control — and ends up making expensive, bad decisions that can do significant damage to the future of the community you, and we, love.

So don’t let it happen.

Sunshine matters.

And the good politicians and bureaucrats — they welcome it.

We have quite a few of just those sorts of leaders in charge in this community right now.

They will use that courage and dedication to lead this city and county forward, no matter how hard it is to take the questions or scrutiny. And they aren’t afraid to ask a few questions of their own — right out there in public meetings like they are supposed to.

That is exactly what we need right now — and it is working.

Now, with that said, let’s talk about a leadership issue — and a controversy you need to keep your eyes on.

For the last eight months, the city of Goldsboro has had an interim city manager, Matthew Livingston.

Livingston took on the role after the city made the bold and long overdue decision to “part ways” with its problematic former city manager, Tim Salmon.

It was understandable that the new mayor and council decided that they needed a steady hand at the helm as Goldsboro transitioned out of the Salmon era and into a new direction for the city.

And we got to that era, in part, because there were a whole lot of questions that were not asked and discussions that city residents were not privy to about how to move the city forward.

So, we got embarrassingly late audits.

We got poorly spent COVID funds.

We got mismanagement in the Water Department.

We got underfunded police and fire departments and a skyrocketing crime rate.

Etc. Etc. Etc. See how important it is to have access to all the dirty little “secrets” in your city — or, at Continued on page 12

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Continued from page 10

least, someone to ask the questions?

Want to know just how bad it can get when no one is held accountable publicly?

Just ask Wayne County Public Schools.

But after some pretty important decisions — a new direction and new leadership from a council who was determined to make sure Goldsboro got back on track — we are on the right path, and keeping the community informed about what needs to be fixed, what is a work in progress, and what is an absolute “must do it now” fouralarm fire.

But what we don’t have is an “official” manager at the helm to bring that process forward — someone who has the title, the responsibility, and the accountability.

And that is why we want you to pay close attention.

What Goldsboro does not need now is another placeholder — a candidate who gets dropped in the slot because it is easier than really looking to find the best person for the job.

Salmon got the job, in part, because no one else wanted it. The late Mayor Chuck Allen told us so, on the record, at the time.

The city, he said, was a mess and the council was nothing less than a clown show.

What kind of quality city manager candidate would want to walk into that?

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But now, things are different.

The council is, for the most part, working well together.

And even though there are still some slow responses and questionable positions, this group is, generally speaking, moving forward with Goldsboro’s best interest at heart.

There are, save for a few examples, no more embarrassing bickering matches.

And the lawsuits that slowed down progress?

Well, one of the last ones just got put to bed.

So, yes. This is a city that is ready to move forward.

All we have to do now is find the right leader.

There are some who might feel that there should be a coronation — that Livingston should automatically get the job.

We — and many, many of our readers — disagree.

Not this time, you have said.

And you’re right.

Here’s the truth: Livingston might very well be the best pick for the city manager job.

He should have a chance to make a pitch for the position — and be given credit for the work he has done to this point and a chance to address any concerns council members have about the less-than-great decisions he has made. (More on those in future editions of Wayne Week.)

But Goldsboro does not need someone who slips into place. That never works.

The city needs an exhaustive, and careful, search for the right person to lead Goldsboro forward.

And you, the taxpayers who ensure City Hall functions, have the right to just that sort of choice.

We do not need another expensive payout or someone who thinks that they are doing the city a favor by taking on the task.

And, with all due respect, Livingston is not owed the full-time city manager gig. He was paid well for his time as interim manager, and now has an advantage over other applicants because he can show the council what he has done and will do for Goldsboro.

But we need a professional search for the best available candidate for the city manager position, not a rush job.

If Livingston is truly the best person to lead Goldsboro forward, he should want that, too — and should not be afraid of a little competition.

We have a living, breathing example of what can happen when you let professionals look for the right person to take the helm of an organization that has been through a major disaster.

Again, ask Wayne County Public Schools.

The district — and its School Board —

made some hiring mistakes in the past.

But thanks to the leadership — and, frankly, courage — of people like Board Chairman Craig Foucht who challenged the status quo, WCPS has a superintendent in place now who is getting the job done.

And while we wish there was a little bit more transparency from WCPS, we can honestly say that the openness and the willingness to address issues that are a little bit uncomfortable are getting better.

We are not out of the woods yet, but we have confidence that the rot is being cleaned out and that new standards have been set.

None of that would have happened without the search that led to the hiring of Dr. Marc Whichard.

Goldsboro needs that same kind of leadership.

So, Livingston has the chance to make his pitch.

And yes, he will enjoy the inside track because he is familiar with the concerns the city is facing and has eight months that will serve as his “interview.”

But whether he is truly the best person for the job is the real question — one that will only be answered if the council does what Mayor Charles Gaylor asked them to do the moment Salmon walked out the door.

It is what Goldsboro — and its residents — deserve.

Let’s hope the council gets that.n

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I'm just the

FIRST AMENDMENT! Goldsboro's mayor pro tem asked an attorney working for the city if a federal judge could be compelled to force Wayne Week to reveal the identity of a confidential source.

BY KEN FINE and RENEE CAREY

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I

n June, after a teenager was shot to death inside the Ash Street Food Lion, members of the Goldsboro City Council held a specialcalled meeting to address the alarming number of gun-related homicides and shotsfired incidents that had unfolded inside the city limits this year — and pledged that they would continue discussions about how to put a dent in the violence.

Since then, there have been more homicides — and more shotsfired incidents — but no additional public conversations have occurred.

In March, the month after local leaders were “blindsided” by a Wayne Week story that confirmed the Air Force was set to divest some of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base’s F-15Es — and shift the 4th Fighter Wing’s mission to strictly training — the council hired a new consulting firm to lobby on behalf of SJAFB and the city in Washington.

And Councilman Roderick White, who expressed concerns about a lack of “deliverables” in the contract, was assured that there would be robust discussion when, at the end of the fiscal year, it came time to renew Crossroads Strategies, LLC. But when, at a recent council meeting — White was not in attendance — Mayor Charles Gaylor presented the renewal option to the board, there was no lengthy discussion, and no questions were asked before the agreement was unanimously approved.

Downtown parking?

Countless hours have been spent by the council on the issue.

And Monday, during a closed session, Mayor Pro Tem Brandi Matthews brought up another topic that has garnered more of the board’s time this year than gun violence and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

According to a confidential source who was in the room, she asked whether or not the city’s attorney could communicate to a federal judge Goldsboro’s desire to have him compel Wayne Week to reveal its confidential sources — a move that would violate the First Amendment, North Carolina’s shield law, and federal whistleblower protections.

“This is how the council is spending its time,” the source said Tuesday afternoon. “People

have the right to know that they’re not talking about the issues that involve our livelihoods.

They are entertaining nonsense about trying to threaten journalists for exercising their First Amendment rights.”

M

onday was not the first time that Matthews has spoken out against Wayne Week publishing facts provided by a confidential source who is on the city’s payroll.

In February, she expressed outrage over the fact that a preliminary audit report sent to City Hall by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor had been published.

Continued on page 17 newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 15

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And she inferred, in open session, that a member of the council was behind the “leak” — a statement that drew the ire of several council members who felt their character was being unfairly questioned.

But she was not the only one who has, this year, spent considerable time during public meetings discussing “ethics.”

After news of a proposed settlement in former City Councilman Antonio Williams’ lawsuit against the city — and disclosure of a 5-2 vote during a council meeting closed session that killed it — was published, Gaylor, after calling it a topic that was “highly, highly relevant right now,” told board members in open session they needed to ensure they were “living up to our code of ethics.”

But some members of the council, who asked to remain anonymous so they could speak freely without drawing the mayor’s ire, said they were offended by the implication that elected officials were the ones divulging the information — particularly given the fact that in stories relating to so-called “secret” deliberations, Wayne Week’s confidential sources were identified as “city employees” who were “not elected officials.”

“I know for a fact that everybody on the council read those stories,” one council member said. “It could not have been more clear that the person leaking information from our closed session was an employee.

And, as you know, there are always several non-elected officials in our closed sessions.”

M

atthews’ most recent suggestion that the city attack the First Amendment — and federallyprotected whistleblowers — came after an Oct. 6 cover story explained why a federal judge had thrown out Williams’ lawsuit

against Goldsboro and one of its former department heads.

But the court records obtained by Wayne Week for that story were obtained through the courts before the judge placed them under a 21-day seal.

And the other “leaked” information was, in the source’s view, essential to the public.

The first, published at the beginning of year, involved the preliminary audit report sent to City Hall.

Its contents, which were supposed to remain confidential until the state had completed its investigation, included a staggering number of “issues of concern.”

Items mentioned included: • Misuse of COVID-19 funds.

• Former City Manager Tim Salmon allegedly receiving what the state characterized as an undocumented water credit — one of dozens of credits awarded to city employees and elected officials.

• Thousands of dollars in charges to city procurement cards made by council members and department heads for trips across the country and stays at beach resorts.

• Council members with thousands of dollars owed to the Water Department being granted grace and not having their water service disconnected in what the state said was a show of “preferential treatment.”

And for the source, outing alleged corruption by city leaders and elected officials was worth the risks associated with leaking the information.

“They wanted to keep it in the dark so they could change some policies and explain the bad behavior away and act like nothing had happened,” they said. “Whistleblowing when there is law-breaking happening and you have

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wouldn’t have been outed. I’ll just leave it at that.”

Continued from page 17

corrupt politicians and leaders is protected by our government. There’s a reason. If it weren’t for what they are calling a ‘leak’ from someone a bunch of council members are now saying should get me fired, nobody would have ever known about how dirty things had gotten in this building.”

And honestly, we should be thanking the person who leaked the audit stuff.

G

aylor and Matthews are not the only ones who have addressed the board about the problem with “leaks.”

City Attorney Ron Lawrence also weighed in during the council’s Sept. 2 meeting.

“What happens in closed session should stay in closed session,” he said.

But Lawrence, like Gaylor, seemed to zero in on the council — educating them as to why closed sessions exist in the first place after the mayor noted there were “new” people on the board who needed clarity.

“This is not intended to be a ridicule. It’s not intended to be anything other than a factual statement. We’ve got to make sure that we are living up to our code of ethics,” Gaylor said.

“We have some concerns with information that is sensitive information … getting out. We also have a relatively new council, some new folks in the room, so we’ve got to make sure that everyone is very clear on what’s expected.”

And that statement did not sit well with

I

those on the board who spoke to Wayne Week after that meeting.

“Not only does it sound like he is accusing members of the council of leaking information, he’s really coming after the new ones,” said one of the council members. “How do we know

I T ’ S T I M E FO R BOLDER BONDING

he’s not the one talking out of school?

How do we know it’s not (Lawrence)?

That’s the part that gets under my skin.

And honestly, we should be thanking the person who leaked the audit stuff. If it wasn’t for them, some of the people who were apparently doing illegal stuff

t remains unclear whether or not the council will, indeed, attempt to take action against Wayne Week, but according to the source who was in the room when Matthews suggested the city attempt to get a federal judge to lean on the publication, the attorney she was addressing told her journalists were protected by the Constitution.

And in 1978, in Landmark Communications, Inc. v. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the freedom of the press included the right to publish information akin to what Matthews was upset about — with Chief Justice Warren E. Burger writing that the Constitution protected, “third persons who are strangers to the inquiry, including the news media,” when they were “divulging or publishing truthful information regarding confidential proceedings.”

N.C. General Statute is clear, too, about newspapers’ right to protect the identity of its sources.

According to G.S. 8-53.11, journalists have a “qualified disclosure in any legal proceeding of any confidential or nonconfidential information, document, or item obtained or prepared while acting as a journalist.”n

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the SPECTATOR

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A brand new Wayne County non-profit born in the wake of Hurricane Helene is feeding those in Western North Carolina who have been displaced by the storm — and the volunteers helping them pick up the pieces. The group's story will appear in a future edition of Wayne Week, but if you want to fund their trips to the mountains in the meantime, visit wefeednc.org PHOTOS SUBMITTED

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Solid Judicial Experience

3 times elected as a judge with 10 years on the bench. Previously served 4 years as a prosecutor and 6 years as a defense attorney and civil litigator.

Knows & Follows Judicial Ethics

Judge James has never given to political candidates while serving or running for Judge, because she takes the NC Code of Judicial Conduct seriously.

Focused on the Law, NOT Politics

Judge James has run for only one office Judge. She was elected in 2012 and reelected in 2016 & 2020. It’s the only elected office she has ever sought.

The Verdict on Billy Strickland Career Politican.

NO Judicial Experience.

Blatantly Violated Judicial Ethics.

Still Supports Mark Robinson.

Billy Strickland has never been a judge or prosecutor.

Billy has run for County Commission, Congress, and State Senate — and lost every single time. Billy Strickland is a career politician. 1

Broke North Carolina's Code of Judicial Conduct by donating $17,200 to six political candidates after filing to run for judge. 2,3 Gave Mark Robinson $7,600 and still has not spoken out against Robinson’s praise of slavery. Instead of denouncing his comments, Billy bizarrely claimed Robinson’s comments were made by AI. 4

1. Strickland Ballotpedia History:https://ballotpedia.org/Billy_Strickland 2. https://www.erickaforjudge.com/news 3. OpenSecrets.org: https://bit.ly/Billy_Strickland_Contributions & NC Code of Judicial Conduct - Canon 7(B)3: 4. Sept. 26, 2024: Strickland at Delta Sigma Theta Candidate Forum https://bit.ly/Strickland_Says_Robinson_An_AI_Victim

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