By Staff
Beaufort County Commissioner Hood Richardson didn’t put up much of a fight when he was in court to answer to a charge of disorderly conduct.
Hours after his arrest on Oct. 30, 2006, Richardson indicated he would fight the charge, which was brought against him after he attempted to distribute campaign literature at a football game between Southside and Manteo high schools. At the time, Richardson, a Republican, was running against Arthur Williams, the incumbent Democrat representing the 6th District in the state House. Beaufort County is in that district.
In response to a letter from Bryant Hardison, then the chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Education, that advised Richardson not to hand out campaign literature at school events, Richardson issued two press releases before the Southside-Manteo game indicating that he would not abide by Hardison’s letter.
After being convicted of disorderly conduct in Beaufort County District Court in February 2007, Richardson said, “I’ll take this as far as I have to … and I believe we’ll win.”
Richardson even rejected a deal that would have resulted in the charge being dismissed.
In February 2007, the district attorney’s office for the 2nd Prosecutorial District offered Richardson a deferred prosecution, which would have allowed the charge against Richardson to be dismissed if the commissioner did not commit any crimes for a year. If Richardson had accepted the offer and complied with its conditions, the charge would have been dismissed last month.
For someone who indicated several times he was prepared to take his case to the highest court in the land, Richardson’s fight was more rhetoric than substance. The commissioner certainly had the right to enter a no-contest plea.
An explanation of why he decided not to “take this as far as I have to” would be interesting to hear. Could it be Richardson realized he was wrong? Don’t expect him to say that, but many people would like to know why he threw in the towel.
Some of Richardson’s supporters are saying he was arrested and charged for distributing campaign materials at the football game. There’s more to it than that. When the Southside principal discovered Richardson was distributing campaign literature at the football game in violation of a school board policy, the principal asked Richardson to leave school property. When Richardson refused to immediately leave, the principal went to see a magistrate about getting a warrant for Richardson’s arrest.
Richardson’s arrest on the disorderly conduct charge came about because he refused to leave school grounds. Anyone else asked by a school official to leave school property would face arrest if he or she did not comply with that request.
As for the policy prohibiting candidates from distributing campaign materials at school events and/or on school property, that’s an issue that may deserve debate.
Richardson has continually fought against illegal immigration and the county providing benefits and services to illegal immigrants. He’s continually fought against wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money. Richardson has no trouble taking a stand and letting the world know why he’s taking that stand.
His decision to enter his no-contest plea runs counter to what people have come to expect from the commissioner.
The saying goes that actions speak louder than words. With little, if anything, said by Richardson about his decision not to “take this as far as I have to,” the commissioner’s promise of action rings hollow. There’s no doubt Richardson can talk a good game.
Then again, rhetoric is just words.