NC elections official steps down days after primary amid donations violations
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A member of the North Carolina State Board of Elections has stepped down just days after the primaries, following allegations that he made prohibited campaign contributions.
Republican board member Bob Rucho announced his resignation during Thursday's State Board of Elections meeting. According to our newsgathering partners at the News & Observer, Rucho donated roughly $1,200 to the reelection campaigns of Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown and Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell while serving on the board.
State law prohibits elections board members from contributing to political candidates.
During the meeting, State Auditor Dave Boliek, who appointed Rucho to the board less than a year ago, publicly acknowledged the resignation and thanked him for his service.
Rucho's departure also comes just one day after a conservative activist called for his removal, citing comments Rucho made about Senate leader Phil Berger's reelection campaign. The activist -- a supporter of Berger's opponent, Sam Page -- posted a screenshot of a Dec. 30 social media post in which Rucho criticized Page's platform, saying it "promotes more state government spending," and urged that Rucho "needs to resign or be removed."
Rucho, a former state senator who previously served alongside Berger and chaired key legislative committees at Berger's appointment, has not publicly commented beyond his resignation.
Angela Hawkins, the Republican chair of the Wake County Board of Elections, has been selected to fill Rucho's seat on the State Board.
