Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker’s remarks in today’s News and Observer reminded me of old bumper stickers popular in Wrightsville Beach, NC in the 1980’s.
He said ““We have people who are not from the area, don’t share our values, who are the majority on the school board,”
“Welcome to Wrightsville Beach, Now Leave” decorated the bumpers of many cars on the island at that time. It seemed, the people of Wrightsville Beach relished outsiders’ money, but did not want them staying too long and certainly did not want to hear what “they” had to say. Sounds a lot like our Mayor.
So, when I read Bob Luebke’s blog this morning, I wondered where in North Carolina Mr. Meeker had grown up.
I was surprised to learn that, according to a 2009 News and Observer article posted on his law firm’s web site, Meeker’s hometown is Washington DC. That’s right, not Washington, NC, but Washington DC, of all places.
Mr. Meeker should recuse himself from this debate, at least from his position as mayor. He has a clear conflict of interest on this issue given his wife’s position on the School Board and her disagreement with the plan. He is welcome to his person opinion on the matter. Using his mayoral post to advocate for his wife’s position on a matter outside the jurisdiction of the City is simply an arrogant abuse of power.