So Charlotte-Mecklenburg ABC Board Chairman Park Helms refuses to step down even after an investigation conducted by NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Officials proved he violated state Alcohol laws for basically "bribing" a liquor company.
Here lies the $64M question: Does Jennifer Roberts (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chairperson) have enough guts to remove him?
Don't forget Helms (also a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioner) was once Roberts' Mentor.
Let's see....
Jennifer Roberts had NO problem refusing to allow Nick Mackey from serving as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's First Black Sheriff ever.
In fact she made a big stink about it all the way to the NC Democratic Board State Officials until they overturned Mackey's election.
Don't misjudge me on this one because after the local Media exposed all of Mackey's dirt including how he'd wronged his clients (Mackey is a Licensed Attorney), I too agree he should NOT have been allowed to serve as County Sheriff.
However my point is how quickly Roberts moved to act on ensuring Mackey would NOT serve.
Due to the Racial backlash Jennifer Roberts suffered over Mackey, it doesn't take rocket science to see that's why she refuses to remove allegedly Corrupt Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones who also happens to be Black, from his job.
Here's a little secret Jennifer, if you remove Harry Jones from his job it would be an Asset to Charlotte and would probably save your Political career.
Park Helms refuses to step down.
Jennifer Roberts has yet to remove both Harry Jones and Park Helms after proven evidence surfaced showing that both Men deserved to be relieved of their duties.
Has anyone forgotten that Charlotte-Mecklenburg DSS (which Jones oversees)is under investigation by a Grand Jury?
Of course not!
The Partisan Charlotte Observer (Community Nickname: "Charlotte Disturber") doesn't want to go there anymore for fear of perhaps losing Democrat advertising dollars.
Jennifer the ball is in your court.
Either way I think your finished because Charlotteans are tired of Corruption both Public and Political.
Park Helms Rejects Call To Resign From ABC Board
Mecklenburg County ABC Board chairman Parks Helms on Monday rejected a request from fellow ABC directors to resign "in the best interests of the Mecklenburg County ABC system."
"I have carefully considered your request that I resign as Chairman of the ABC Board so that you could '...begin to restore trust in the system and its management by the public,'" Helms wrote in an e-mail. 'I respectfully disagree... and will not resign."
But pressure for his resignation continued to rise Monday as Mecklenburg County commissioners chair Jennifer Roberts suggested he give it "serious consideration."
"I would hope that Parks would give it serious consideration to remove himself... so we can all focus on the issues going forward," she said.
A former Mecklenburg County commissioners chairman, Helms has been under fire since a Nov. 18 dinner hosted by the liquor company Diageo.
Diageo spent $12,700 on the dinner at Del Frisco's steakhouse for 28 ABC Board employees and their guests. The $4,900 bar tab included $1,000 for four bottles of Dom Perignon.
After news accounts, ABC employees and Helms repaid $9,334. The company picked up the bill for its two employees and their spouses as well as the $2,032 tip.
Last week Alcohol Law Enforcement agents issued a report alleging that Diageo, its N.C. marketing director and the Mecklenburg ABC Board violated laws on giving and accepting anything of value.
Based on their findings, the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has since launched a statewide probe into possible violations of liquor laws in Asheville, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and at least four other cities.
The local ABC directors sent Helms a two-line e-mail Sunday night asking him to resign "effective immediately."
"I guess what we wanted was to basically start over," director Elton Shoemaker said Monday. "We just felt like a change should be made, and if the county commissioners wanted to appoint a new chair they could."
Shoemaker signed the request with directors Mary Richardson, Angeles Ortega-Moore and Jim Polk.
Helms declined to elaborate on his reply.
In the each of the past three years, records show, the board chairman was paid $6,000 a year. Board members earned $5,000.
Helms was the only Mecklenburg ABC director at the dinner. Richardson, Polk and Ortega-Moore told the Observer last week they didn't know about it. Shoemaker declined to comment.
Helms faces scrutiny over the dinner from the two groups that could remove him: the Mecklenburg County commissioners and the state ABC Commission.
Agnes Stevens, spokeswoman for the state ABC commission, said Monday the commission is in touch with Mecklenburg commissioners. Conversations, she said, are ongoing.
Roberts said the controversy has become a distraction.
"Sometimes we all recognize there comes a point when we as officials may be more of a distraction than a support to whatever issue it is we need to move forward with," she said.
"I respect Parks, he has been a tremendous public servant. We all make mistakes sometimes and it takes a big person to admit that. I'm sure there will be other things we can turn to him for service in other ways."
Republican commissioner Karen Bentley has said the county board should remove Helms.
Mary Richardson, the ABC Board director, hinted at the board's decision to write Helms last week.
"If you're doing wrong and you know you're doing wrong, you should suffer the consequences," she said.
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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, WCNC, NC General Assembly, Charmeck.org, Google Maps
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