Mecklenburg Commissioners should appoint Nick Mackey sheriff now!

Democrats should avoid the media hype and complete the nomination of Nick Mackey as sheriff of Mecklenburg County, as the Party Executive Committee voted on Thursday night. No one can say for certain that Nick Mackey will not be a great sheriff. Even if past mistakes are taken into account, moving forward Mr. Mackey may well be better for the job than anyone. But more important is that the selection process was followed as written and therefore should be accepted. Changing the rules in the middle of the game will only reinforce the assumption by many African Americans that 2007 is not much different from 1907, when poll taxes and other ruses often were used to stifle black political influence. Most of you owe your very positions to loyal black support at the polls. The attempt to pull an end run around black voters now will break bonds that have put Democrats in control of local Mecklenburg County and Charlotte City governments. What will be the reward for black voter loyalty? Mr. Mackey will have three years to prove his critics wrong or right. He can be voted out of office either in the Democratic primary or the general election at that time. For the Democratic Party and the County Board of Commissioners to deny him the opportunity to serve would be a racist affront and an illegal usurpation of the will of black voters, Bob Davis’s strategic nomination of Chipp Bailey notwithstanding.