The Shelby Star article titled RV parks on the rise in Cleveland County uncharacteristically, and probably unknowingly, tells it all about the true corruption involved in the elected leadership here .in Cleveland County. Not stupidity. Not unknowingly. Not mistakenly. But a planned scheme of corruption that has infected the Commissioners through and through. The School Board and the Cleveland Community College Board of Trustees too. But that is a story for another article. And soon.

Let’s start with the most egregious act of the Commissioners regarding the approval of the new RV Park Ordinance. According to that Shelby Star Article by reporter Rebecca Sitzes; “Commissioner Johnny Hutchins proposed waiting to pass the ordinance and putting a moratorium on any new applications until commissioners had time to fully review the document.” Note the key words “until commissioners had time to fully review the document.”

This one statement tells it all. The Commissioners ended up voting to approve the RV Park Ordnance WITHOUT fully reviewing the documents. And WITHOUT heeding the words of School Board member Danny Blanton, the only member of the general public who spoke at the Public Hearing regarding the Ordnance. It seems that Mr. Blanton himself is building a RV Park on his property and already has an approved permit. Which means the Commissioners voted to approve an ordnance that they didn’t understand and refused to listen to a member of the public who knew what he was talking about. All indicators of poor leadership. But more importantly, poor leadership that had made up their minds before the meeting. From listening to advice from unknown people who probably had an interest in keeping RV Parks out of Cleveland County. Somebody with inside influence illegally used and most likely a financial interest too.

So, who could that somebody with insider influence and financial interest be??? Former Commissioner and known wheeler and dealer Eddie Holbrook comes to mind for obvious reasons. Holbrook is a part owner of the newest motel in Cleveland County, influential enough to get a well-traveled road closed so he can make $500,000 profit on the property where the closed road is torn up and re-tasked for “speculative construction” property, as well as making money by forcing people to use his motel instead of using RVs to visit Cleveland County. That is what came to my mind anyway. Logical? Right? Right!!!

Of course all this is corruption to the core. And it ain’t all of the story here!

County Planner Chris Martin also stated that the ordnance would “Also require they (RV Parks) are developed safely so occupants, if they need emergency services, they can be reached by emergency vehicles.” So, they bring in the EMS Director into the RV Park planning. The same EMS Director who has started many scandals of his own and allegedly spent excessive amounts of tax dollars and brought EMS Debt to the $4.8 million. They are stumbling all over themselves trying to make sure EMS vehicles can access the RV Park. Only a fool would not realize in about three seconds that, if RVs can access the RV Park-so can EMS vehicles. The County has made a big deal over nothing regarding safety and EMS response time. This is so simple that the issue has to be “invented.” Invented for some sinister reason. Now, I am back to thinking more about that Eddie Holbrook-Motel thought. Holbrook doesn’t want more RV parks because he wants people to pay big prices to stay at his motel. So, the County has to come up with an RV Park Ordnance so Eddie Holbrook and his partners can make bigger profits.

Other consideration NOT mentioned in the Star Article was Economic Development and Travel and Tourism. A $7 million entry in the 2020 County Budget. Let’s look at some facts”

1. The RV industry is supplied with engines, transmissions and the whole chassis assembly, all put together at the Freightliner Plant in Gaffney, SC. Hundreds of high paying jobs, many of which are filled by Cleveland County residents. Why would the Cleveland County Commissioners want to restrict the livelihood of their own citizens?
2. The County has spent $millions on such things as the Earl Scruggs Center, the Foothills Shooting Complex, the Don Gibson Theater, the American Legion World Series and other things that have not been able to pay for themselves. There exists a whole and very large population of tourists who take to the road in their high dollar RVs to see the sights of North Carolina, the South East and all of America. Why would the Cleveland County Commissioners want to restrict this tourism business when they are already in the RED financially??
3. The construction of the newest Electrical Generation Plant in Cliffside just a few years ago brought workers from all over America to Cleveland County for several years. Many of those workers would rather spend their money on RVs instead of Motels. RVs that they can use over and over again instead of Motel or rentals where their money is gone without a trace. Why would the Cleveland County Commissioners restrict travelling workers from staying in Cleveland County rather than buying their food and fuel somewhere else???

Also, Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine defended the new RV Ordnance, knowing the Commissioners were in the dark. And the new ordnance would be foolishly inadequate until much work and revision. Why would the foolish Commissioners go along with this plan to develop a new Ordnance from scratch? Spending many tens of thousands of tax dollars “re-inventing the wheel?” Especially since I just spent less that five minutes “googling” RV Park Ordnances in North Carolina and the first item on the list was the “RV Park and Mobile Home Ordnance” from nearby Rutherford County. An Ordnance that is almost thirty years old, and updated to reflect the needs of today. I am an Engineer and spent about 10 minutes going through the Rutherford County Ordnance. I could spend about two hours changing the name from Rutherford County to Cleveland County and a few format changes and I am sure “MY” Ordnance would surely surpass what the Cleveland County Commissioners have come up with.

See for yourself below:

Mobile Home and RV Park Ordinance

Now, let’s make a long story short. How could I come up with a new RV Park Ordnance in such a short amount of time??? The answer is simple. I would NOT be interested in payoffs from people like Eddie Holbrook whose profits would go up by restricting RV Parks. I would be interested in doing my best to protect the interests of ALL Cleveland County citizens and not just the few Eddie Holbrooks that go around peddling their influence for profits as described previously.

That is also why I recommend getting rid of Commissioners like Susan Allen, Ronnie Whetstine and Johnny Hutchins and installing a new majority on the Commissioner’s Board. Robbie Morgan, Tommy McNeilly and Dennis Davis. If you are interested in better government and less waste, mark your 2020 Republican Primary Ballot as shown below. For Commissioners and the School Board too. You will be glad you did.
 
Voting Guide!!!
2020 Primary Elections for Cleveland County
County Commissioners and Cleveland County Board of Education
Note: These are Republican Primary Elections as
There are No Democrat Primary Elections for these offices!!!

You May Vote for THREE

2020 Primary Elections–Voting Guide
County Commissioners
2020 Republican Primary Elections for County Commissioner
Sample Ballot
Mark as Shown

You May Vote for FIVE

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.

A Marked-up 2020 Democrat Primary Sample Ballot for all the offices has been prepared for your convenience. Print off a copy and take it to the voting booth with you when you go vote on Election Day.

Note that the format is for an 8 x 14 page. If you cannot print off an 8 x 14 page, change your settings for an 8 x 11 page.

We have studied each candidate for every office and believe each of our recommendations is the best candidate for the office from a Democratic Party perspective. For President, State Offices and especially the local Judge. Other articles have been published about the local offices.

Note that this 2020 Election is one of the most critical in the history of our Nation, State and County. Please do your duty and vote for the candidate of your choice. That is what I intend to do.
See you at the Ballot Box on Election Day, this Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

Marked-Up 2020 Democrat Primary

A Marked-up 2020 Republican Primary Sample Ballot for all the offices has been prepared for your convenience. Print off a copy and take it to the voting booth with you when you go vote on Election Day.

Note that the format is for an 8 x 14 page. If you cannot print off an 8 x 14 page, change your settings for an 8 x 11 page.

We have studied each candidate for every office and believe each of our recommendations is the best candidate for the office. For President, State Offices and especially the local Judges, Commissioners and School Board. Other articles have been published about the local offices.

Note that this 2020 Election is one of the most critical in the history of our Nation, State and County. Please do your duty and vote for the candidate of your choice. That is what I intend to do. Vote in accordance with the candidates as shown on this Marked-up Sample Ballot.

See you at the Ballot Box on Election Day, this Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

Marked-up 2020 Republican Primary

Editor’s Note: The previous Letter to the Editor sent to us by Marjorie Hooper said it best, with my experience thrown in regarding the District Court Race for Judge Seat Number 4 in the 2020 Republican Primary. I will re issue that letter here with a Marked-up Sample Ballot for your convenience. Also, it has been reported that RINO Judge Meredith Shuford has taken two weeks off work so she could work the Early Voting places every day. I suppose she realizes her record as a Judge has caught up with her.

The Letter:

Judge Candidate Meredith Shuford “Outed” as RINO for all to see!!!
Lifelong Democrat trying to ride Republican Coattails!!!
Letter to the Editor and commentary provided by Robert A. Williams

DEMOCRAT IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

We have a person running for District Court Judge in Cleveland and Lincoln Counties. This person has changed their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Normally, this would be a welcoming event. Not so with Meredith Shuford.
When a person changes their affiliation, usually they embrace the new party’s platform. Not so with Meredith Shuford. She is pro-choice and against our 2nd Amendment Rights. Why did she change her party affiliation? Does she tell people at the polls what she really stands for?
Brad Champion is the REAL REPUBLICAN in this race. He is a Christian and believes in the sanctity of life. He is pro-2nd Amendment. He is tough on crime and will be OUR CHAMPION in the courts. Brad Champion has been endorsed by NC Speaker of the House, Tim Moore, Representative Jason Saine and several other Senators.
Meredith Shuford has been endorsed only by her Democrat friends.
The Public needs to know the truth about Meredith Shuford.
Whoever wins this primary on Tuesday, March 3, win this Judge’s seat. Please get out and Vote March 3, and vote for the REAL REPUBLICAN, BRAD CHAMPION.

Marjorie J. Hooper

Editor’s Note: This “Letter to the Editor” was provided by Marjorie Hooper, former President of the Women Republicans of Cleveland County (WeRoCC), now, in her individual capacity. Which is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Also note that we agree with Ms. Hooper regarding Judge Meredith Shuford.

I have personal knowledge of Judge Meredith Shuford when she was a Democrat. It involved a larceny of my property by a thief in the night. The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department investigated, caught and charged the thief with the crime. After I had to appear in Court five or six separate times, the case came to trial under Judge Meredith Shuford. The thief plead guilty and the Judge sentenced the thief to probation contingent on paying me restitution for the property that was stolen. The thief walked out of court free as a bird. The thief likely paid the probation fees yet never paid me one red cent for the stuff he stole.

That is the kind of justice I rec4eived under Judge Meredith Shuford.

I plan to vote for Brad Champion for District Court Judge in the 2020 Republican Primary Election. And, like Marge Hooper, I recommend that YOU do the same.

The following marked-up Sample Ballot is as shown below:
 
2020 Republican Primary Elections for Judge
NC District Court Judge District 27B–Seat 4

You May Vote for One

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.

Attorney Colin P. McWhirter was the vanguard for a Republican candidate running for District Attorney in Cleveland and Lincoln County back in the day when Cleveland County Republicans could have their meetings in a phone booth. Democrats were the corrupt Political kings in Cleveland County back then and Republicans were afraid to support a fellow Republican for fear of “offending” the Democrats. But McWhirter was not afraid and ran for DA anyway.

McWhirter won in Lincoln County and the “Scaredy-Cat” Republicans in Cleveland County mostly stayed home. The Democrat DA, known for his plea bargains, (then as NOW-even with a Republican-Mike Miller) squeaked out a narrow victory when victory could have easily been had by McWhirter if the foolish Republicans would have helped him in Cleveland County-even just a little.

So, now Colin McWhirter has decided to get back into running for office-as a Judge this time. Remembering the local Republican Party, that in many ways is still in the “Stone Age,” McWhirter in his characteristic “kiss nobody’s political ass” attitude, has filed to run for the Office of District Court Judge as a Conservative Democrat that still doesn’t care for phony plea bargains that sometimes lets the DA hold people in jail for years at a time before trial. A practice that is about to cost Cleveland County taxpayers $20 Million for a bigger jail.

And, McWhirter’s opponent for judge is Angela Woods, presently a liberal Democrat who has her experience mostly as a DSS Attorney under the guidance of Chuck Wilson. Both of whom seem to have developed an elitist better-than-thou attitude toward the public. A feeling that they are better than everybody else who gets “Mad” if anyone disagrees with them. And, who especially take great pride in putting young black men in jail for child support so high that they will never be able to pay. Ever. In jail or out.

Therefore, the recommendation is simple. Vote for Colin P. McWhirter for District Court Judge and poke in the eye all those elitists Democrats and Republicans who just don’t get the reality that they work for us. The Citizens, taxpayers and voters in Cleveland County who want a fair shake down at the Courthouse. And everywhere else in County government!!!!

A Sample Ballot is shown below on how to mark your ballot for this office of District Court Judge on the Democrat 2020 Primary Ballot.

Editor’s Note: It will be telling who wins this Democrat primary election race. A black democrat woman attorney who works for DSS to put young black men in jail for child support violations or a white male attorney who wants to be fair to all. No matter what race, creed, gender or political affiliation.
 

2020 Democrat Primary Elections for Judge
NC District Court Judge District 27B–Seat 5

You May Vote for One

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.

DEMOCRAT IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

We have a person running for District Court Judge in Cleveland and Lincoln Counties. This person has changed their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Normally, this would be a welcoming event. Not so with Meredith Shuford.
When a person changes their affiliation, usually they embrace the new party’s platform. Not so with Meredith Shuford. She is pro-choice and against our 2nd Amendment Rights. Why did she change her party affiliation? Does she tell people at the polls what she really stands for?
Brad Champion is the REAL REPUBLICAN in this race. He is a Christian and believes in the sanctity of life. He is pro-2nd Amendment. He is tough on crime and will be OUR CHAMPION in the courts. Brad Champion has been endorsed by NC Speaker of the House, Tim Moore, Representative Jason Saine and several other Senators.
Meredith Shuford has been endorsed only by her Democrat friends.
The Public needs to know the truth about Meredith Shuford.
Whoever wins this primary on Tuesday, March 3, win this Judge’s seat. Please get out and Vote March 3, and vote for the REAL REPUBLICAN, BRAD CHAMPION.

Marjorie J. Hooper

I plan to vote for Brad Champion for District Court Judge in the 2020 Republican Primary Election. And, like Marge Hooper, I recommend that YOU do the same.

A Source reported:

There seems to be so much corrupt with the EMS these days! Who knows? Things that you may not know, Brian Epley and Ryan Wilmoth are trying to shut-down all the Rescue Squads.

There have been two meetings so far this year to come up with a solution. The concerns I have is how can the county pick up the amount of calls the rescue squads currently run. If they want to use the idea of putting on more trucks–that’s a joke. That would cost more money the county does not have. I know for a fact that Johnny Hutchins and Whetstine were both in the last meeting that was in Brian Epley’s board room.

Please help dig this dirt up. The rescue squads have a lot of good employees that would be out of work if this would take place. The county can say they would hire them but that is false they will not due to past employment or they can’t pass the MedPat test (Medic Physical Ability Test (MEDPAT) the county requires.

Editor’s Note: I have put a call to County Manager Brian Epley in regard to this report. As yet I have no reply. If I hear anything, one way or another, I will provide that information as soon as I get it.

Part II:
After my call to County Manager Brian Epley, which was not returned, I sent the above draft article to the Commissioners and Brian Epley that stated:

“Subject: County Doing away with Rescue Squads??? Please confirm or deny by close of business today

Please confirm or deny whether or not the county is planning to do away with the County Rescue Squads? Otherwise, I will publish this article as is.

Also, please provide any comments that you would like to add to this report I received today.

Thanks, Robert A. Williams”

This Morning I received a message from County Manager Brian Epley which stated:

“Good Morning Mr. Williams,

Please see attached letter.

Have a wonderful day.

Brian Epley”

The “attached Letter” is provided at the end of this article.

Please note that I could NOT find ONE WORD in the County Manager’s attached letter that answered my questions or even mentioned Commissioners Johnny Hutchins and Ronnie Whetstine’s role in this unfolding scandal. My question was simple and there was no answer to my simple question in Epley’s reply. A clear example of Epley using the age-old cover-up trick; “When you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with Bullshit.” Epley, Hutchins and Whetstine are surely laying on the “bullshit” thick, because there ain’t no “brilliance” to be found in Epley’s letter.

Also, folks, maybe I missed something? So, here is another offer of a $100 reward for the first person who can find an answer to my question in County Manager Brian Epley’s response. A response that is clearly tailored to try to coverup for Commissioners Hutchins and Whetstine. And, don’t forget this. I copied ALL the Commissioners with my question. Neither Hutchins. Whetstine, Susan Allen or anybody else provided a response.

In the meantime, my guess that all this is a planned and “secret scheme” to cover-up for the Commissioners doing something stupid with the rescue squads seems right on the money. So, my suggested response at the ballot box in the 2020 Republican Primary Elections is right on the money too. The Sample Ballot shown below will cure what ails the Cleveland County Commissioners. It is time for this kind of change. No more wishing and hoping for this band of nit-wit commissioners to see the light. Let them feel the heat coming from the ballot box!!!

In the meantime, hopefully nobody dies because of these soon to be “former” County Commissioners fooling around with the Rescue Squad folks.

Mr. Williams Letter 2-26-2020

Voting Guide!!!
2020 Primary Elections for Cleveland County
County Commissioners and Cleveland County Board of Education
Note: These are Republican Primary Elections as
There are No Democrat Primary Elections for these offices!!!

You May Vote for THREE

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.
 
2020 Republican Primary Elections for School Board
Sample Ballot
Mark as Shown

You May Vote for Five

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.

Editor’s Note: Part I of this article was initially intended to be a Public Records Request to Cleveland County Government to obtain documented evidence to “Fact Check” what I believed to be false or inflated statements made by County Commissioner Candidates Johnny Hutchins and Ronnie Whetstine (or anybody else) at the February 13, 2020 Commissioner Candidate Forum held at Cleveland Community College and other campaign information put out by those candidates ad Commissioner Meetings and anywhere else they may be out soliciting votes. Then provide what I learn to the voters in Cleveland County. I will do the same for any other candidates between now and Election Day 2020.

This article relates to a call I received from Commissioner Johnny Hutchins on Feb, 21, 2020.

The call from Commissioner Johnny Hutchins came in at 09:17 on Friday, February 21, 2020. I picked up the phone.

Commissioner Hutchins immediately began to rant at me, saying “YOU (me) are the one blowing smoke.” Apparently in regard to my article posted the day before.

Commissioner Hutchins went on to say that he “did NOT have any county prepared “Cheat” as I had opined, that he had done his own research and wrote it down on pieces of paper. When I responded that those pieces of paper were typed-up on County Letterhead, Commissioner Hutchins just move his rant on to something else. And, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Commissioner Hutchins made some incoherent statements about the number of employees in Cleveland County and that he “didn’t know anything about Project Fix.” When I tried to respond to him that he had voted for Project Fix at the February 4, 2020 Commissioner’s Meeting, Commissioner Hutchins hung up the phone.

After a brief period of thought about what Commissioner Hutchins had said about Project Fix, I came to the realization that perhaps Commissioner Johnny Hutchins most likely did NOT know about this co-called “Project Fix,” even though he had voted for it.

Perhaps for several reasons-all of them bad.

One thing is for sure. There is a Project Fix. At least according to the approved minutes of the February 4, 2020 Commissioner’s Meeting. An official Document with legal standing.

But there is a catch. According to Commissioner documents, Project Fix is a $3 Million program to fix-up houses to increase the population and tax base. All well and good. Except the City of Shelby is demolishing houses as fast as they can. 58 was the last count.

So, why is the County Commissioners and the Shelby City Counsel working at cross purposes. One possible reason is Shelby is moving the black population our of Shelby slums near the Rail-Trail and Thread Trail, where big high dollar housing will take their place. And move their crime areas out in the county? What about that Commissioner Johnny Hutchins and Ronnie Whetstine? Is that the plan? Make big dollars for the real estate developers.

Another catch is this Project Fix approval was “hidden” in the Commissioner Meeting “Consent Agenda” as sub-part of the Meeting Agenda. Consent Agenda items have historically been very minor, mostly clerical and administrative stuff that needs no formal discussion. But they require Commissioner approval just the same. Usually there are four to five, sometimes ten or so Consent Agenda Items that are all read off by the County Manager and then all of them are approved by a single vote that includes them all with no discussion by the Commissioners. At least no discussion in public at an open meeting. But lately, I have discovered that the Commissioners, probably with some conniving by the County Manager have taken to sneaking in much larger items that have or should have the need to discuss in open session, being hidden in the Consent Agenda. Clearly a corrupt attempt to fool the general public.

I have started looking closely at Consent Agenda items that are in reality should NOT be Consent Agenda Items because they do need discussion and explanation for the public to know what the Commissioners are up to. I find such items from time to time. More often in recent times.

At the February 4th 2020 Commissioner’s Meeting there were eight items on the Consent Agenda.

Item C was titled Travel and Tourism. It was listed as “Budget Amendment” where some money was either spent or received. A Closer look into this time showed that the County Commissioners have “Partnered Up” with the several groups, including the Town of Boiling Springs, The Kings Mountain TDA, The Don Gibson Theater, The Earl Scruggs Center, and the American Legion World Series. To pay for some Travel Advertising. The county taxpayers paid part and the other partners paid a part. It is known that the Don Gibson Theater, Earl Scruggs Center and the ALWS survive on payments to them by the County. So, the only way they can pay anything is to take money the county gives them to pay with. Which means of the six entities, the County effectively paid four of the six parts. Probably the same with Boiling Springs and Kings Mountain. Such as this kid of Partnership should be told to the Citizens of Cleveland County. That the County Commissioners are paying most of and probably all of the cash to operate the partnerships the County gets into. But hide such facts such as this through smoke and mirror tricks such as this Item C on the Consent Agenda.

Item G was more insidious, sneaky and likely to be corrupt. It was titled Economic Development and subtitled Building Reuse Grant Resolution. You would think this was a search for a grant to help pay for a building somewhere to maybe be re-fitted for a job creating business. No matter, it deserved some discussion.

But, NOooo!!! No discussion here!!! But a deeper dive into the cover-up pile of “hokum” (A Charm School word for corruption or bull-shit or both) showed this was in reality the Project Fix that Commissioner Johnny Hutchins claimed he didn’t know anything about. Although now it is crystal clear that Hutchins voted to approve Project Fix.

In the so-called Resolution part in the subtitle, this Project Fix is to create new, full-time jobs for 25 people making $40,378 per year. That alone is a $1,009,450 payroll to be used in fixing up houses or something???

But then the resolution says Project Fix includes the acquisition and improvement of real property and tangible personal property, totaling more than Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000). Personal Property??? That should raise some suspicions!!

It goes on to say, PROJECT FIX, anticipates creating approximately Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) in net new investment, which will increase the population, taxable property base, and business prospects for the County!!!

In general, this Project Fix generates much more questions than answers. Especially when it was couched in a sneaky and likely corrupt way that offends the concept of transparency and conjures up suspicions of self -dealing. Especially since Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine stated in the February 13, 2020 commissioner’s candidate forum at CCC that “1,000 new houses were coming to Kings Mountain.” And Whetstine happens to be a building contractor in Kings Mountain. Such as this has to make you wonder if this non-transparent Project Fix is nothing more that an inside wheeling and Dealing payoff to somebody-that may include kickbacks straight to the Commissioners.

Otherwise, why does Commissioner Johnny Hutchins refuse to talk about something that he has just voted for without one word of discussion. According to the Feb 4th 2020 Commissioners Minutes, the Project Fix item in the consent agenda was approved by a unanimous vote with no discussion at that time. And, now, nobody else wants to say a sword about it. Even though I sent a Freedom of Information Act request about this Project Fix to the Commissioners and nobody will reply.

I don’t know about the rest of you readers, But I recommend voting in the 2020 Republican Primary Elections as shown below. I don’t intend to ever vote for Commissioners who do such things as described in this article.

My recommendations for Commissioners and School Board Elections are as shown below.
 
Voting Guide!!!
2020 Primary Elections for Cleveland County
County Commissioners and Cleveland County Board of Education
Note: These are Republican Primary Elections as
There are No Democrat Primary Elections for these offices!!!

2020 Primary Elections–Voting Guide
County Commissioners
2020 Republican Primary Elections for County Commissioner
Sample Ballot

2020 Republican Primary Elections for School Board
Sample Ballot
Mark as Shown

You May Vote for Five

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.

Editor’s Note: The following message provided by a trusted source tells it like it is about the Cleveland County Commissioners lies, omissions, and cover-ups. Not to mention their total lack of leadership. Every Commission should resign on the spot for this and the many other examples of corruption and just not giving a damn about County Employees or the citizens of Cleveland County. And, especially the taxpayers!!!

The source writes:

Breach of employee’s personal info at County EMS

More cover ups by Cleveland County EMS Director Ryan Wilmoth and Human Resources Director, Allison Mauney, that again reaches all the way up the hierarchy to the County Manager, Bryan Epley and some County Commissioners:

Data Breach of personal information for ALL past and present Emergency Medical Services (EMS) employees!!

Breached Data includes:

– Full Name
– Date of Birth
– FULL SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Home Address
– Phone Number
– Salary

This breach occurred when a County EMS employee accessed ALL THE DATA on ALL EMPLOYEES, from as far back as 1989, though a County EMS program known as “Fast Access”. The employee accessed and used the payroll info to create a spreadsheet of monies/cost in an effort to prove to their new EMS Director, Ryan Wilmoth, that it was more cost effective to utilize Part-Time employees at a lower pay rate to cover open shifts, instead of mandating the Full Time employees work an additional 12 hours pre or post their already 24 hour work shift! Yes, that would be working 36 hours straight, but it would all be for 1.5 times their normal pay rate. BUT, not only could this one employee access ALL this data, EVERYONE who works at EMS could access this data…from a computer program they all used on a daily basis!! So, how many 100’s of times has this data been accessed/breached and when will it be utilized by a disgruntled or discouraged employee or ex-employee??

After a couple of months… the above-named County Administrative people decided that they would NOT notify all of the past and present employees that this illegal breach of data had occurred…but instead, they were going to plead a case of ignorance. They claim that the County Information Technology Department and the Human Resources department was “unaware” that the data base had been built in 1989 by a now retired EMS employee… really…then how did ALL current employee’s personal data get entered if this retiree of 3 years wasn’t around anymore??? So, since EVERYONE in EMS, BUT the administrators were aware of the accessibility of this personal data…then they decided that it wasn’t a “real data breach.”

What happened to this employee who admittedly accessed and used the data to prove what the EMS Director, County Manager, Human Resources Director and County Finance failed to comprehend on payroll and budget issues…??? She was made to hand over all hard copies/personal copies of the data she had breached and made to sign an affidavit stating that she would not use any of the data for “personal gain” or she ran the risk of being prosecuted …. but, was there a disciplinary action taken again her…?? Well…NO, because then the County would HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE that there was an actual data breach and that wrong doing occurred. What a bunch of County Clowns!

Whose responsibility is it to notify ALL PAST and PRESNT employees of the BREACH??
A breach of this magnitude of information can be devastating to individuals!
This breach exposed information that typically doesn’t change…like your SS#, DOB, or name…and criminals can use this info for identity theft LONG after the breach!
Identity theft goes well beyond credit fraud. With info like your SS# and DOB criminals can file tax returns, steal from investment accounts, or rack up medical bills! YES, even though there were no credit/debit card numbers or passwords that were part of the exposed data, the personal information could be used in phishing attacks, password resets, and other nefarious activities!

Because Cleveland County chose NOT TO NOTIFY all PAST and PRESENT employees of the breach…instead… they finally got the computer program that contained this info closed out, and again SWEPT THE DIRT UNDER THE RUG…not caring of the long term effects this could have on the people who had their personal info BREACHED!!

I wonder what the total payout is going to be when THIS CLASS ACTION SUIT hits Cleveland County???
With the EMS department alone, already being $4.8 million in debt…and several other law suits in effect against Cleveland County Government as a whole… how much more of the TAX PAYERS MONEY are they going to waste paying their way out of these stupid legal errors that they continue to facilitate and try to cover up ???

I would encourage ALL EMS EMPLOYEES from 1989 until present to checkout your legal rights in this matter, as you may be a victim of this breach for years to come.

Best Regards!

Editor’s Note Part II: Alright Commissioners, and Especially Commissioners Johnny Hutchins and Ronnie Whetstine, tell s the truth!!! What is going on here and what are you going to do about it?

For those who don’t get an answer to this, there is a solution. Print off the attached Voter’s Guide shown below and vote accordingly!! You will be glad you did!!
 
Voting Guide!!!
2020 Primary Elections for Cleveland County
County Commissioners and Cleveland County Board of Education
Note: These are Republican Primary Elections as
There are No Democrat Primary Elections for these offices!!!

You May Vote for THREE

2020 Republican Primary Elections for School Board
Sample Ballot
Mark as Shown

You May Vote for Five

Note: You can print off this page and take it to the Voting booth with you.
Nobody has the authority to take this voting guide away from you. Inside the polling place or outside.
You also have my permission to copy this page and pass the copies around as voting guides for your friends, neighbors and relatives.

Thank you for voting.

Editor’s Note: Even with “Cheat-Sheets” provided by County Employees on County Time and stationery, Commissioners Johnny Hutchins and Ronnie Whetstine seemed to be “Blowing Smoke” to the voters at the February 13, 2020 Candidate’s Forum held at Cleveland Community College. But, to be fair, I have provided the following Freedom if Information Act questions so that Commissioners Hutchins and Whetstine can clear their name…If they can?

I am sharing the questions with the public and I will share the answers with the public as soon as I get them.

To: Cleveland County Public Records Officer, All Commissioners, County Manager:

Subject: Fact Checking Campaign Statements—Public Records Request Submittals:

Several unclear Projects and Plans have been mentioned by the Incumbent Cleveland County commissioners at Commissioners Meetings and a Political Forum during this 2020 Election year. Under the Freedom of Information Act s well as North Carolina Public Records Laws, please provide the following documents and records related to these claimed projects and plans:

Project Fix was the subject of a Resolution involving a 5% matching grant to fix up houses. According to the resolution 25 workers would be hired for permanent full-time jobs making $40,378 per year for four years. Project Fix was claimed to increase the population, tax base and business prospects.

1. Please provide for inspection all the documents and records that show just who in involved with this Project Fix and justify how any of the claims that were made will be accomplished.
2. How this Project Fix is justified while at the very same time the City of Shelby is in the process of demolishing substandard housing as rapidly as possible.

Sell Cleveland County was mentioned by Commissioner Johnny Hutchins at the Republican Commissioners Candidate Forum at Cleveland Community College as a program that would provide jobs to 58,000 employees that would pay over $42,000 per year.

1. Please provide documents and records for inspection that just who is involved with Sell Cleveland County and justify how any of the claims that were made will be accomplished.
2. Accelerate Cleveland County is a project by Cleveland Community College that claims to have one person out of 9,000 that has achieved a success by obtaining a job that pays around $42,000. Did Commissioner Hutchins mix up Accelerate Cleveland County with Sell Cleveland County? And, if so, please provide documents and records that show exactly the statistics and accomplishments of each project over the time they have been in existence.

1,000 Homes Coming to Kings Mountain: At the same political forum noted above, Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine claimed that 1,000 new homes were coming to Kings Mountain.

1. Please provide for inspection all documents and records that substantiate Commissioner Whets tine’s statements.

20-year Financial Plan for Cleveland County: At the Political Forum previously mention, Commissioner Johnny Hutchins claimed that the Commissioners had developed a 20-year =Financial Plan that would provide all the answers for the problems and issues of Cleveland County.

1. Please provide for inspection all such 20-Year Financial Plans that the Commissioners have developed,
2. Provide all documents and records that show how and why justification that future Commissioners will enact any of it.

Please note that these are all related to Commissioner Johnny Hutchins and Ronnie Whets tine’s statements of what the commissioners have done accomplished and are bragging about. Or lying about.

I expect a full and accurate response to this Request for Documents and Records by Close of Business Monday, February 24, 2020 so that I can report to the voters whether or not Hutchins and Whetstine were just blowing smoke to the voters or actually telling the truth.

One real, but obscene question regards Hutchins saying that 58,000 workers would be making $40,378 per year. That many employees are just about 100% of the total county workforce. And about 25% or more of those work outside Cleveland County.

Thank you for a quick response.

Robert A. Williams
citizensforgoodgovernment.org