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Mecklenburg County commissioner Kim Ratliff apologized Tuesday night to the public and her colleagues for saying she preferred that the next county manager not be a white man. Ratliff, the board’s vice chair who is a Democrat and black, said in a brief statement at the board’s regular meeting that she regrets making the statement. “My comments were meant to encourage all candidates to apply for the position and not meant to exclude anyone,” she said. “I realize now my comments may not have been appropriate, and I regret making them.”

On Friday, January 4, the owner of Noveske Rifleworks, 36-year-old John Noveske, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Highway 260 in Oregon. ... Only a day earlier, the lifeless body of 32-year-old Keith Ratliff was found at FPS Industries in Franklin County, Ga., just outside of Carnesville. He had been shot once in the head, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Ratliff was well known for a series of videos he produced

Authorities in Georgia are searching for suspects in the shooting death of a gun enthusiast and weapons expert who managed a popular YouTube channel showcasing high-powered guns and explosives. Keith Ratliff, 32, who helped operate FPSRussia firearms channel on YouTube, was found dead inside his Carnesville, Ga., office on Jan. 3 from a single gunshot wound to the head. The man's death is being investigated as a homicide, Mike Ayers of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed to FoxNews.com. "He [Ratliff] did sustain a gunshot wound that was not self-inflicted," Ayers said, adding that "robbery does not appear to be...

Runoffs to replace state Senate icons Associated Press Accusations have been flying and the money has been flowing in East and West Texas as state Senate candidates engage in runoff elections today to replace Republicans Bill Ratliff and Teel Bivins. The two longtime senators resigned, and an election in January to replace them did not produce a winner. The top two candidates in each race advanced to a runoff. In West Texas, Kel Seliger, who served four terms as mayor of Amarillo, faces fellow Republican and Odessa businessman Kirk Edwards in District 31 to replace Bivins. District 31 includes Dallam,...

Seliger, Edwards face runoff to fill Bivins' District 31 seat AUSTIN (AP) — Former Amarillo Mayor Kel Seliger and Odessa businessman Kirk Edwards, both Republicans, are headed for a runoff election for the state Senate District 31 seat. The special election was called to re place Sen. Teel Bivins, who resigned after he was nominated by President Bush to serve as ambassador to Sweden. Seliger received 36 percent of the vote with 100 percent of the precincts re porting. Ed wards, 44, pulled in 21 percent of the vote. "I'm just very excited and energized by it and ready to...

Ratliff stepping down BY NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - State Sen. Bill Ratliff, a Republican who served for two years as acting lieutenant governor and recently denounced the GOP-led congressional redistricting effort, said Thursday he is resigning. Quoting from the Bible, Ratliff said "to every thing there is a season." He said now is his "time for going out." Ratliff, 67, made the announcement in his district in Mount Pleasant and in Austin. He also delivered a letter to the governor's office that said he plans to retire effective Jan. 10, exactly 15 years after he was sworn...

West Texas district is thorn in Republican plan BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - What started as a frenzy between Democrats and Republicans could be determined by roughnecks and cotton farmers. West Texans in Midland and Lubbock are at the center of a Republican legislative stalemate over congressional redistricting. Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland said he's not negotiating over the design of West Texas' congressional districts. Republican Sen. Robert Duncan of Lubbock, chair of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee that is tackling redistricting, says he won't vote on a map his constituents don't like. "He's got to...

Ambitions are fueling this fight Thursday, August 21, 2003 Folks wonder why Gov. Rick Perry, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, are risking political capital on congressional redistricting. Perhaps Republican politics. When Perry switched to the GOP in 1989, his mentor, then-U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, a party-switcher himself, said a former Democrat had to be more Republican than other Republicans. Perry listened. Yet speculation continues that either U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or another former Democrat, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, will challenge Perry in 2006. Dewhurst's presumed game plan is to win another term in 2006 and then run for governor...

Ratliff mulls resignation over redistricting mess BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - Former acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, the only Senate Republican who has vocally opposed congressional redistricting, said Tuesday there's little chance he will seek another term and has contemplated resignation over the current state of the Texas Senate. "It's a day-to-day or month-to-month decision," said Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant. "I'm getting to the point that I'd rather be playing golf. I enjoy my golf a little more these days." Speaking publicly for the first time since angrily walking out of a Senate Republican Caucus meeting last week...

Ratliff joins effort to block redistricting bill BY NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - Republican Sen. Bill Ratliff said Monday he would join with 10 other senators in attempting to block a congressional redistricting bill from reaching the Senate floor. Ratliff, former acting lieutenant governor, said he has told Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst of a statement signed by 10 other senators stating their "unalterable opposition" to any motion to bring up redistricting for debate. "I have advised the lieutenant governor that I am adding my name to that statement," Ratliff said outside the Senate chamber. Under longstanding Senate...

Locals take complaints to the top Click here to see the redistricting proposals By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Fearing diminished representation in West Texas, Lubbock banker W.R. Collier is among a group planning an Austin trip today to discourage state senators from drawing new congressional districts. "A number of people from Lubbock are going to meet with Sen. (Robert) Duncan ... and (Rep.) Tom Craddick in the House concerning this redistricting that we're all faced with," Collier said Sunday. "My interest is in leaving it as it is." Duncan, a Lubbock Republican, is chairman of the Senate Jurisprudence Com mittee charged...

GOP's new map stirs uprising in West Texas By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Many West Texas entities appear to be leading a charge and a public information campaign against congressional redistricting plans before the Legislature. The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce believes the Republican-backed plan would hurt business and representation in West Texas and all of rural Texas. Plains Cotton Growers also is opposed to the plan based on the loss of representation in agriculture and loss of rural representation. State Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, voted against the plan this week because his constituents, Republican and Democrat, were against it and believe...

House map hits stiff resistance in state Senate Associated Press Click here to view the redistricting proposals AUSTIN (AP) — Democrats and some Republicans in the Texas Senate aren't satisfied with a congressional redistricting map the House produced, meaning changes to the plan are needed, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Tuesday. "There are some concerns by members of the Senate on the House map that came over last night. So we're going to have to go to work on that map if we're going to see a redistricting plan come out of the Senate," Dewhurst said. Dewhurst, the Republican presiding...

All eyes on Texas senators Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — House Democrats took the lead to kill a congressional redistricting plan during the regular legislative session. Now, with a special session on the same issue starting soon, the focus and pressure could shift to the Senate, where Democrats are in the minority but are strong enough in numbers to block a bill for debate. "I'm hoping we can convince the senators to stand up and fight what we perceive as an injustice," said Rep. Joe Deshotel of Beaumont, who fled the state for four days in May with fellow House...