Moore gets OK to run for seat
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 29, 2012 1:46 PM
An elections panel Wednesday ruled 4-1 that Tony Moore of Winterville is eligible to run for the state District 5 N.C. Senate seat he once held.
However, the attorney for Winterville resident Calvin Henderson, who filed the challenge to Moore's eligibility to run, said during the hearing that he will appeal the ruling to the state Board of Elections.
The sole vote to uphold the challenge was made by Wayne County Board of Elections Chairman Joseph Lofton. Lofton chaired the multi-elections panel consisting of representatives of the boards of elections in the counties that make up the 5th District.
Moore, a Winterville town councilman, is running for the Democratic nomination for this minority-majority district against Don Davis, a former Snow Hill mayor and District 5 state senator.
The primary election is May 8. There is no Republican opposition.
Wednesday's ruling has to be typed up within 48 hours of the action, said Wayne County Board of Elections Director Vickie Reed. Once it is official, Henderson's attorney will have 10 days to file the appeal, she said.
The time limits are in pace to ensure a ruling prior to the primary, she said.
Henderson is challenging whether Moore has lived in the district for the required amount of time after moving into his current residence in January. State law requires that candidates live in their legislative district for at least one year prior to the date of the election in which they are running.
Moore said he moved into his new residence in January, but owned the property for the last four years. Also, his old residence was in the 5th District until it was redistricted into District 7, he said.
District 5 includes all of Greene County, portions of Pitt and Lenoir counties and cuts a swath through eastern and central Wayne County including sections of Goldsboro, Dudley and the eastern portion of Mount Olive.