Brunswick County Board of Commissioners adopts resolution opposing private money in North Carolina elections

BOLIVIA, N.C. – The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution (linked here) authored by Commissioner Frank Williams opposing the use of private money elections at its regular meeting on Monday, March 20, 2023. Commissioner Mike Forte also assisted with development of the resolution.

“The integrity of our elections is fundamental to the survival of our republic, and the influence of private money from groups with partisan motives on either side of the aisle is concerning,” said Williams. “Adhering to the proper role of government is also a fundamental tenet of a properly functioning free society, and it is important for our board to adhere to our role under State law. This resolution clearly states our concern over the use of private money in elections, offers solutions rather than just criticism, and supports our legislators in their efforts to prohibit the use of private funds in North Carolina’s elections.” 

Commissioner Williams’ resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the issue of election integrity is on the minds of citizens throughout Brunswick County, the State of North Carolina, and the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, controversy has arisen over the Brunswick County Board of Elections’ membership in an organization called the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence (hereinafter “the Alliance”); and

WHEREAS, the Alliance was launched in 2022 by the Center for Tech and Civic Life (hereinafter “CTCL”), which is funded in part by Mark Zuckerberg and other tech billionaires; and

WHEREAS, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners believes the integrity of our elections is fundamental to the survival of our republic; and

WHEREAS, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners opposes the use of private money from sources with potentially partisan motives to fund elections in Brunswick County or elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners has received requests for it to force the Brunswick County Board of Elections to withdraw from membership in the Alliance; and

WHEREAS, the Brunswick County Attorney has stated that the Brunswick County Board of Elections is an independent entity, Brunswick County government is not a party to the agreement, and that the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners cannot terminate an agreement to which it is not a party; and

WHEREAS, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners allocates the Brunswick County Board of Elections’ overall budget, but as an independent entity the Brunswick County Board of Elections exercises control over how those funds are spent; and

WHEREAS, the Director of the Brunswick County Board of Elections has stated a need and desire to network with other elections directors for the purpose of sharing best practices; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners strongly encourages the Brunswick County Board of Elections to terminate its membership in the Alliance; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners directs Brunswick County staff to work with the Director of the Brunswick County Board of Elections to identify suitable alternatives to the Alliance and to include reasonable membership dues and travel expenses in the Brunswick County Board of Elections’ budget to cover the elections director’s participation in a suitable alternative organization; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners supports legislation to prohibit private money from influencing North Carolina elections, such as Senate Bill 89 that has been introduced in the 2023-24 session; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners encourages the North Carolina General Assembly to appropriate funds to ensure that North Carolina elections directors can receive adequate training and best practices from non-partisan sources; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners encourages the North Carolina Association of Directors of Elections and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners to research ways to partner to provide elections directors with training and opportunities to network and share best practices.