Business

Waddell seeks state waiver on his ABC role

By Bill Moss, Published: September 6, 2012

Henderson County ABC Board chairman Beau Waddell, after reading in state regulations that ABC permit holders can't serve on boards, reported his situation to the state ABC Board and is awaiting a decision on whether he can remain on the local board.

Waddell, who was appointed to the new ABC board and named chairman by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners in July, is vice president and general manager of Reaben Oil Co., which owns Triangle Stops, a chain of convenience stores that sell beer and wine. In North Carolina, private retailers can sell beer and wine but not liquor, which is sold under state control through local ABC boards.
Waddell told the board during its second meeting Wednesday in the process of reading in depth the duties and qualifications of ABC board members he ran across the provision that bars ABC permit holders from serving on the boards. One reason, he said, is that the county ABC board, if it operated a liquor store, would have to contract with a law enforcement agency for policing. Contracting for alcohol sales enforcement on one hand and owning stores that are the subject of enforcement on the other hand could be viewed as a conflict.
When he contacted the board, Waddell said state officials told him the rule can be waived by the state board if it appears no conflict exists.
"So I submitted a letter telling them why I felt like it wasn't going to be a conflict," he said. "I made my case that I'd really like to serve with this board, but obviously if they vote that I can't then I will immediately resign and it'll go back to the county commissioners to fill my position."
The rest of the board rushed to Waddell's defense. Board member George Erwin, a former sheriff, said "there's no question about you and your family's integrity and character." He made a motion stating the board's support of Waddell, which passed unanimously, with Waddell abstaining from the vote.
The state board will vote take up the question in its meeting later this month, Waddell said.
Waddell was among four appointees to the county ABC board, which commissioners formed after voters approved liquor stores countywide in a series of alcohol questions on the May 8 ballot.