By now, students have heard of the impending changes to the Watauga County voting process.
Earlier this month, the county’s Board of Elections appointed Republican Luke Eggers to the third seat on the board. Soon after, a meeting was held, during which big changes to the county voting were implemented.
Eggers said in an interview with WRAL that the changes will streamline voting and save money.
Despite the fact that Watauga County Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges disputed his claims, he continued to push until the changes went through.
But Hodges wasn’t the only resistance he would face.
Eggers was warned during the meeting that he had violated his oath by consulting with Watauga County Republican Party Chairwoman Amanda Marie Yates about the voting plan because her brother is running for office, according to WRAL.
In my opinion, Eggers should step forward and issue a public statement about the controversy.
The same report also states the details of the meeting were included in the draft minutes, but the three-member board approved a third version of the minutes last week. The new version left out key details, stating that precinct locations were discussed and Yates was not mentioned.
Raleigh attorney Mike Tadych told WRAL that he thinks the edited minutes are legal.
It would seem to me that covering up the meeting is a poor move, and Eggers still has not made any public comments on the matter.
If you can forgive Eggers for virtually flipping Watauga County voting on its head, can you also forgive him for omitting certain parts of a board meeting to keep him out of hot water?
As college students, maybe we can learn a lesson from Eggers.
More than anything, he teaches us how we shouldn’t act. Sometimes running from the truth and attempting to bury it is worse than simply facing it.
Sometimes you have to step up and take fault for your actions.
Eggers isn’t gaining any popularity with the younger demographic in Watauga County. Perhaps admitting his faults will raise his popularity level, or maybe the damage has already been done.
Spiers, a junior journalism major from Charlotte, is the opinion editor.