THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 13, 1994 TAG: 9412130267
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ESTES THOMPSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
GOP congressional candidate Robert Anderson complained Monday to the State Board of Elections about its handling of the 7th District election, but all he got was a unanimous vote to table further discussion.
The board did remind Anderson that it has ordered an investigation into his complaints that voter fraud in Robeson County was the reason he lost to Democrat Charlie Rose.
Anderson's request to decertify Rose as the winner was met with blank stares on Monday. The board last month voted to delay certification of Rose pending an investigation, then changed its mind and voted to certify Rose.
After Anderson spoke to the board, some of the dozen supporters who attended the meeting with him peppered the uncomfortable board members with pointed questions.
``Why was the board's vote changed?'' demanded Bobbye Hildebrand of Wilmington.
Edward High, chairman of the elections board, gave this response: ``The vote was changed because we did not have all the information pertinent to the fact before our decision was made.''
Hildebrand wasn't satisfied.
``It's extremely disappointing to voters that that type of thing can take place,'' she said. ``My vote hasn't counted.''
Anderson had said before coming to the board meeting that he would present new evidence of fraud. But he didn't mention any to the board.
Anderson said after the meeting he would take his complaint to the U.S. House, which will be dominated by Republicans when it convenes in January, in hopes it will refuse to seat Rose.
``The certification of Mr. Rose will stand intact until after the investigation by the SBI,'' said High, who several times asked Anderson to present any new information but not rehash old themes.
After the State Bureau of Investigation probe, High said, the board will hold hearings early next year into the allegations of voter irregularities in Robeson County. If the allegations prove true and would change the election results, the board could consider reversing Rose's win, he added.
Gary Bartlett, executive secretary of the board, said the FBI had forwarded affidavits from Anderson to the board that contain the allegations. Bartlett said he had given the affidavits to the State Bureau of Investigation.
Rose said Anderson should have followed election laws, which dictate that he first complain to the county board of elections before going to the state board. Anderson bypassed the local board and filed a complaint with the state board after the deadline for making complaints to the local boards.
``I'm worried that his failure to follow the law of North Carolina makes it look like he's being shut out of an opportunity to tell his story, and that's not the case,'' Rose said.
Rose said the House Administration Committee, which he has chaired for the past four years, will hear Anderson's complaint and decide whether to pursue it. The committee will be run by a Republican.
``The tradition has been that to get to the House of Representatives, you must exhaust your state remedies,'' Rose said.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION by CNB