Richardson resigns from Rockingham Board of Elections after tumultuous year

kAm#:492C5D@?[ 2 s6>@4C2E 7C@> |25:D@?[ 2??@F?465 9:D C6D:8?2E:@? :? 2 =6EE6C E@ z2C6? qC:?D@? q6==[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 q@2C5 @7 t=64E:@?D :? #2=6:89] w6 6?5D 9:D C@=6[ 67764E:G6 :>>65:2E6=J[ E96 =6EE6C D2:5]k^Am

kAm#:492C5D@? 4@F=5 ?@E 36 C624965 7@C 4@>>6?E 367@C6 AC6DD E:>6]k^Am

kAm#:492C5D@? 3642>6 E96 D64@?5 >6>36C @7 E96 3@2C5 E@ C6D:8? D:?46 76==@H s6>@4C2E y677 !2CC:D @7 #6:5DG:==6 23CFAE=J =67E 9:D A@DE @? E96 6G6 @7 E96 }@G6>36C AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 DE2E6 E2AA65 }6=D@? r@=6[ 2 #6:5DG:==6 s6>@4C2E 2?5 7@C>6C >6>36C @7 E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J[ E@ 7:== !2CC:D’D G242E65 D62E 2?5 C@F?5 @FE E96 7:G6\>6>36C 3@2C5]k^Am

kAmq6== H2D ?@E :>>65:2E6=J 2G2:=23=6 7@C 4@>>6?E 23@FE H96? E96 DE2E6 H:== 2??@F?46 2 C6A=246>6?E 7@C #:492C5D@?]k^Am

kAmx? 2 J62C 2=C625J DE24<65 H:E9 F?4@>>@? 492==6?86D 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4[ E96 4@F?EJ 3@2C5 ?2G:82E65 2 42D4256 @7 AC@3=6>D]k^Am

kAm~? $6AE] ah[ E96 3@2C5 G@E65 c\` E@ 7:C6 E96 6=64E:@?D @77:46’D D6?:@C 56AFEJ 5:C64E@C p>J $:>AD@? @7 #6:5DG:==6] #:492C5D@? H2D E96 D@=6 3@2C5 >6>36C E@ G@E6 282:?DE 96C E6C>:?2E:@?]k^Am

kAm$:>AD@? 7@C >@?E9D 925 H@C<65 D9@CE\DE27765 E@ AC6A2C6 7@C E96 }@G6>36C 6=64E:@? 2?5 96C @FDE6C =67E E96 6=64E:@?D @77:46 GF=?6C23=6 H:E9 ;FDE @?6 DE277 >6>36C 2?5 2 92?57F= @7 E6>A@C2CJ H@C<6CD E@ 92?5=6 E96 C:8@CD @7 2 AC6D:56?E:2= C246[ 3@2C5 >6>36CD 92G6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$9@CE=J 367@C6 E96 6=64E:@?[ E96 3@2C5 9:C65 y2? ~56==[ 2 D62D@?65 7@C>6C 5:C64E@C @7 E96 6=64E:@?D @77:46[ E@ 4@>6 @FE @7 C6E:C6>6?E 2?5 CF? E96 @77:46]k^Am

kAmqJ =2E6 ~4E@36C[ H:E9 62C=J G@E:?8 :? 7F== DH:?8 :? #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ[ A@== H@C<6CD 2E @?6 @7 E96 4@F?EJ’D 3FD:6DE D:E6D 42>6 5@H? H:E9 r~'xs\`h] #6:5DG:==6’D A@==:?8 D:E6 2E E96 $2=G2E:@? pC>J @? q2C?6D $EC66E H2D 7@C465 E@ 4=@D6 2D D6G6C2= H@C<6CD E@@< :== 2?5 @E96CD H6C6 4@>A6==65 E@ BF2C2?E:?6 3642FD6 @7 6IA@DFC6]k^Am

kAm%96 4@F?EJ 3@2C5 D4C2>3=65 E@ 7:?5 C6A=246>6?E H@C<6CD H96? 324<\FA DE2776CD H6C6 C6=F4E2?E E@ 4@>6 :? 5FC:?8 E96 E:>6 H96? E96 4@F?EJ’D r~'xs\`h :?764E:@? C2E6 2AAC@24965 2 C6=2E:G6=J 9:89 `_T]k^Am

kAm%96 }ppr! 2?5 E96 4@F?EJ’D s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ C6DA@?565 3J 2D<:?8 E96 DE2E6 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5 E@ :?E6CG6?6 :? @C56C E@ 82FC2?E66 E96 A@==:?8 D:E6 H@F=5 C6@A6? 2?5 E92E E96 3@2C5 H@F=5 36 AC6A2C65 7@C E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm p #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E $FA6C:@C r@FCE ;F586 @C56C65 E96 D:E6 E@ C6@A6? 27E6C 2 52J] p?5 7:?2==J[ #:492C5D@? 2?5 9:D 76==@H 3@2C5 >6>36CD H6C6 23=6 E@ 7:?5 6?@F89 DE277 E@ C6@A6? E96 A@==:?8 A=246’D 5@@CD]k^Am

kAm%96? :? y2?F2CJ[ $:>AD@? 7:=65 2 7656C2= =2HDF:E 282:?DE E96 3@2C5 2?5 EH@ @7 :ED >6>36CD[ 2==68:?8 E96J G:@=2E65 96C u:CDE p>6?5>6?E C:89ED 2?5 DE2E6 =2H 3J 7:C:?8 96C :? $6AE6>36C]k^Am

kAm$:>AD@?’D 4@>A=2:?E 2==686D D96 H2D HC@?87F==J E6C>:?2E65 27E6C 3@2C5 >6>36CD %@?: #6646 2?5 q@??:6 !FC82D@? 24E65 E@ 92G6 96C 5:D492C865[ 32D65 @? 2 AC:G2E6 4@?G6CD2E:@? $:>AD@? 925 H:E9 96C 5@4E@C 23@FE A=246>6?E @7 2 D:8? @FED:56 9:D @77:46]k^Am

kAm$:>AD@?[ H9@ :D D66<:?8 2 ;FCJ EC:2=[ 2D<D :? E96 =2HDF:E 7@C S`__[___ :? AF?:E:G6 52>286D[ 3@E9 7C@> E96 3@2C5 2?5 7C@> #6646 2?5 !FC82D@?[ Sad[___ :? 4@>A6?D2E@CJ H286D 7@C E:>6 D96 A6C7@C>65 E96 5FE:6D @7 :?E6C:> 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5 5:C64E@C[ C6:?DE2E6>6?E 2D D6?:@C 56AFEJ 5:C64E@C[ 2?5 7FCE96C 52>286D E@ 36 2H2C565 2E E96 5:D4C6E:@? @7 2 ;FCJ[ :?4=F5:?8 =682= 4@DED]k^Am

k9bmq@2C5 G@E65 E@ C6EFC? Sg[`__ 8C2?E :?E6?565 7@C A@== H@C<6C 3@?FD6Dk^9bm

kAmx? u63CF2CJ[ E96 3@2C5 G@E65 b\a E@ C6EFC? ?62C=J Sg[`__ :? 8C2?E 7F?5D 62C>2C<65 7@C FD6 3J }]r] 4@F?EJ 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5D 7@C A@==H@C<6C 3@?FD6D]k^Am

kAmx?5665[ E96 DE2E6 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5 5:DA6CD65 Sg[_fg]ag E@ #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ— AC:G2E6 8C2?E 7F?5D 7C@> E96 r6?E6C 7@C %649 2?5 r:G:4 {:76[ @C r%r{] %96 @C82?:K2E:@? >256 C@F89=J Sa >:==:@? :? 3@?FD6D 2G2:=23=6 E@ E96 DE2E6 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5 E@ 36 5:G:565 2>@?8 }]r]’D `__ 4@F?E:6D[ DE:AF=2E:?8 E96 >@?6J 36 FD65 6IAC6DD=J 7@C A@== H@C<6C 3@?FD6D]k^Am

kAm%96 #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ 8C2?E H@F=5 92G6 AFE 2? 6IEC2 S`b]ed :? E96 A@4<6ED @7 @?6\DE@A A@==:?8 A=246 H@C<6CD 7@C 6249 52J E96J D9@H65 FA E@ H@C<[ H96E96C E96J E@:=65 7@C @?6 52J @C `g[ @77:4:2=D D2:5] %96 6I24E ?F>36C @7 @?6\DE@A A@== H@C<6CD H2D ?@E 2G2:=23=6[ 3FE E96 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5 9:C65 2C@F?5 a`d A@== H@C<6CD @G6C2== E@ DE277 E96 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm(96? E96 >2EE6C 42>6 FA 7@C 5:D4FDD:@? 5FC:?8 2 u63] `e 4@F?EJ 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5 >66E:?8[ !FC82D@? 2?5 #6646 2C8F65 :E H2D :?2AAC@AC:2E6 E@ 2H2C5 3@?FD6D E@ A@== H@C<6CD H9:=6 @E96C 4@F?EJ H@C<6CD 5:5 H:E9@FE 2 7:?2?4:2= 3@@DE]k^Am

kAm!FC82D@? DF886DE65 E96 >@?6J >:89E 36 FD65 E@ 3FJ D64FC:EJ 42>6C2D[ :?DE625]k^Am

kAm&=E:>2E6=J[ yFDE:? %924<6C[ E96 4@F?EJ’D 56AFEJ 5:C64E@C @7 7:?2?46[ E@=5 3@2C5 >6>36CD E96 >@?6J 925 E@ 36 FD65 7@C A@== H@C<6C 3@?FD6D @C C6EFC?65 E@ E96 DE2E6 6=64E:@?D 3@2C5] x? EFC?[ E96 DE2E6 3@2C5 H@F=5 C6EFC? 7F?5D E@ E96 r%{r[ %924<6C 6IA=2:?65]k^Am

kAmqFE !FC82D@? 2?5 #6646 H6C6 252>2?E E92E E96 >@?6J ?@E 8@ E@ A@== H@C<6CD]k^Am

kAm“x’> ?@E :? 72G@C @7 E9:D … H6 92G6 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 :? E9:D 4@F?EJ E92E 92G6 H@C<65 5:=:86?E=J E9C@F89 r~'xs 2?5 E96J 92G6?’E C646:G65 2?J <:?5 @7 3@?FD[’’ !FC82D@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm“ … %96C6 2C6 @E96C 6>A=@J66D E92E 92G6 DA6?E >2?J >@C6 9@FCD H@C<:?8 5:=:86?E=J 5FC:?8 r~'xs[ DF49 2D t|$[ 2?5 x 5@ ?@E E9:?< E96J 8@E 3@?FD A2J[’’ #6646 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“x H@F=5 =:<6 E@ >2<6 2 >@E:@? E92E H6 D6?5 E9:D >@?6J 324< E@ E96 8C2?E@C[ 2?5 ?@E AC@G:56 7@C E96D6 3@?FD6D[’’ !FC82D@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm#6646 D64@?565 E96 >@E:@?] |6>36C {62??2 {2HD@?[ 2 #F77:? s6>@4C2E[ G@E65 H:E9 !FC82D@? 2?5 #6646 :? E96 b\a 564:D:@? 282:?DE r@=6 2?5 #:492C5D@? E@ D6?5 E96 7F?5D 324<]k^Am

kAm%96 G@E6 >256 #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ @?6 @7 @?=J EH@ 4@F?E:6D :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 E@ C67FD6 E96 7F?5D] %96 ?2>6 @7 E96 @E96C 4@F?EJ E92E 564=:?65 E96 8C2?E >@?6J H2D ?@E :>>65:2E6=J 2G2:=23=6]k^Am

kAmqFE E96 564:D:@? E@ D6?5 >@?6J 324< C2E96C E92? C6H2C5 92C5\H@C<:?8 6=64E:@?D DE2776CD 567:6D =@8:4[ r@=6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“%9:D H2D >@?6J 7C@> @FED:56 E96 DE2E6[ 2?5 @FED:56 E96 4@F?EJ[ 2?5 x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H @C H9J J@F H@F=5 C67FD6 :E F?56C 2?J 4@?5:E:@?D] x 5:5?’E F?56CDE2?5 :E E96? 2?5 x 5@?’E F?56CDE2?5 :E ?@H[’’ r@=6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“W!@== H@C<6CDX 2C6 2 8C@FA @7 565:42E65 4:E:K6?D[’’ r@=6 D2:5] “p?5 E96J’C6 565:42E65 E@ 7C66 6=64E:@?D 2?5 x 766= E96J H@F=5 92G6 2AAC64:2E65 :E]’’k^Am

kAm%96 >@G6 E@ D6?5 7F?5D 2H2J H2D 2? 277C@?E E@ 6=64E:@?D DE277[ D2:5 (2==J (9:E6[ 24E:?8 492:C @7 E96 #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ]k^Am

kAm“xE :D 6IEC6>6=J 5:D2AA@:?E:?8 E92E >6>36CD @7 E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ[ H9@ D:E @? E96 q@2C5 @7 t=64E:@?D[ H@F=5 D6?5 >@?6J 324< E@ 2 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@? C2E96C E92? 8:G6 E96:C ?6:893@CD 2 3@?FD 7@C <66A:?8 @FC A@==D @A6? 5FC:?8 2 A2?56>:4[’’ (9:E6 @7 t56? D2:5] “%96D6 2C6 9@FC=J H@C<6CD[ H9@ 4@F=5’G6 DFC6=J FD65 E96 >@?6J[ 2?5 :E H@F=5’G6 4@DE E2IA2J6CD ?@E9:?8]”k^Am

kAm#6646[ !FC82D@? 2?5 {2HD@? 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am