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Richardson arrested after handing out campaign literature at school (GOP NC-6)
Washington Daily News ^ | October 31, 2006 | Nike Mayo

Posted on 10/30/2006 11:55:38 PM PST by Jomini

Beaufort County Commissioner Hood Richardson was arrested Monday night after handing out campaign literature at Southside High School during a football game. Two Washington police officers met him at the gate of Washington High School, his second stop of the night — and brought him to the Beaufort County magistrate’s office.

Richardson was charged with disorderly conduct. He was released after posting $1,000 unsecured bond.

“I still don’t know what was disorderly,” he said, standing outside the office at the bottom of the Beaufort County Courthouse.

“Maybe the tie,” said his campaign manager Bill Tarpenning.

Richardson was handing out fliers with referees’ signals on one side and his platform on the other. He is running against incumbent Democrat Arthur Williams for the House District 6 seat. Richardson received a warning at Southside High School, but stayed and handed out his campaign cards until “it sort of dried there,” he said.

Bryant Hardison, the chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Education, notified Richardson in writing before Monday’s game to stop handing out the campaign literature at such events. Hardison cited both a school-board policy and a state statute.

“We’re going to be out at both games — our school resource officer and leaders,” Hardison said Monday in a telephone interview before the game. “He’s welcome to go and press the flesh, but he’s pressing the issue when he’s handing out campaign literature. He’ll be asked to stop and if he doesn’t, we’ll take the necessary steps.”

Richardson sent two press releases before the Southside-Manteo game indicating that he would not abide by Hardison’s letter. “This is an exercise in civics,” the release stated. “All the young people there, as well as their parents, should be aware that no one should allow their First Amendment rights to be trampled on.”

Richardson arrived at the Beaufort County courthouse without handcuffs, in the front seat of a Washington police car, followed closely by Tarpenning and attorney Steve Rader in another car. Each man had a bright yellow campaign sticker on his lapel.


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
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To: dayglored
a politician, running for State office, carrying around an arrest record for breaking state law seems sorta undesirable.

###

John Hancock was a smuggler. That didn't hurt his political career. General Thomas Gage ordered Hancock and Adams arrested for treason. They escaped but the arrest order remained in effect until the colonies won their independence. Still Mr. Hancock served in numerous elected positions, including President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
61 posted on 11/01/2006 5:37:48 PM PST by SUSSA
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To: Jomini

Let's get real....This was a HIGH SCHOOL.

They can't vote and the 1st Amendment provides for free political speech in public areas like town squares and the like.

It was never meant to disrupt a high school activity!


62 posted on 11/01/2006 5:40:58 PM PST by Prost1 (Fair and Unbiased as always!)
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To: Hatteras

The high school football game is a government event held on government property. The government is forbidden by the Constitution from regulating political speech.

If he had gone to a free market school and trespassed on their private property, he would be wrong. He was at socialist schools. He was on government property and at a government sponsored public event. Banning political speech there is like banning it on the courthouse steps or in front of city hall.

If you don’t want to hear political speech or be offered political literature, don’t go to government events.


63 posted on 11/01/2006 5:48:36 PM PST by SUSSA
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To: SUSSA
> John Hancock was a smuggler. That didn't hurt his political career. ..

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!

And luckily for Richardson, it appears he may not have broken a state law after all, just a school rule. (See post #50).

64 posted on 11/01/2006 8:22:36 PM PST by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: Prost1

He wasn't really disrupting a high school activity. It wasn't like he ran naked out on the field with a wireless mic screaming "Vote for me!"

Richardson was handing out fliers with referee signals on one side and his platform on the other to patrons as they were heading toward the stands...before the game even started for the most part.

Other political candidates have been allowed to do the same thing, within the state of North Carolina and the Beaufort County School System in the past.


65 posted on 11/02/2006 8:59:14 AM PST by masterofjack
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To: masterofjack

"Other political candidates have been allowed to do the same thing, within the state of North Carolina and the Beaufort County School System in the past."

I was unaware of these details.


66 posted on 11/02/2006 10:08:39 AM PST by Prost1 (Fair and Unbiased as always!)
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To: Constitution Day

Uglier than it's already been. Even though, I think the county may be split on the Commissioners -v- School Board case...which is in the Court of Appeals.

I'm not sure what the feel on this latest issue is. Tomorrow should prove very interesting.

I heard someone say today, "I've got a feeling that man [Richardson] is going to get elected. And if he does, that's going to turn them all on their heads."


67 posted on 11/06/2006 2:06:16 PM PST by masterofjack
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