Free Daily Headlines

Politics

Set your text size: A A A

Four Seasons Politics

The Top 10, No. 2: Voters oust sheriff

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Bio sketch revisions remove reference to a four-year degree for Meadows

U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, the House Freedom Caucus who had been prominently mentioned as a possible choice as President Trump's chief of staff, has had an update of his official congressional biography and Wikipedia biography. The biographical sketches no longer say that he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida. That's because he didn't, the Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday. Meadows official biographical sketch on a U.S. House website listed his education as "B.A., University of South Florida, Tampa," said the story by the Tampa Bay Times, which also included a screenshot of the House bio. Instead of a four-year degree, Meadows earned an "associate of arts" from USF in December 1980, USF spokesman Adam Freeman told the Florida newspaper. That degree is "similar to a degree an individual might earn after completing two years at a community college," Freeman told reporter Steve Contorno. The House historian corrected Meadows' biography Monday after the Tampa Bay Times inquired about the discrepancy. Meadows spokesman Ben Williamson told the Hendersonville Lightning on Wednesday that no one in Meadows' office had made the Wikipedia revisions on Dec. 11 and that Meadows and his aides had never been the source of the references to a four-year degree from USF. The Washington press corps and newspapers that cover the 11th Congressional District, including the Hendersonville Lightning, have routinely repeated the reference to Meadows as a graduate of USF, sometimes reporting that his B.A. was in "business management." There's no business management degree for two-year students, Freeman told the Florida newspaper. The Tampa Bay Times was apparently looking into Meadows' upbringing and early adult years in the Tampa Bay area as the possibility increased that he would become Trump's third chief of staff. While several other possible candidates publicly took their names out of consideration, Meadows, one of the Trump's earliest and strongest supporters in Congress, made his interest clear. He told a reporter on Monday, Dec. 10, that it would be "an incredible honor" to serve in the White House. The next day, the Wikipedia page was changed. One day later, on Dec. 12, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced that Trump had eliminated Meadows from consideration. “Congressman Mark Meadows is a great friend to President Trump and is doing an incredible job in Congress," she said. "The President told him we need him in Congress so he can continue the great work he is doing there.” Not every reference to his college education has been changed to describe an associates degree. "He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in business management," Meadows' bio on the election news site Ballotpedia says, citing the National Journal as the source of the information. Although references to a B.A. or a degree in business management are common in stories about Meadows, the Tampa Bay Times report noted that "none of these stories directly quote Meadows claiming (to have) such a degree from USF. It also does not appear that Meadows has ever professed a four-year degree from USF on his Congressional website, according to a review of archived web pages." The person who tweaked the Meadows' Wikipedia bio made two other changes, removing a claim that he had "joined Sigma Chi Fraternity" at USF and that he previously had attended Florida State University. An FSU spokesman confirmed to the Florida newspaper that Meadows attended the university in 1977-78. On Wednesday the Wikipedia page had been updated yet again to reflect the facts the Tampa Bay Times uncovered.   Read Story »

Asheville Four Seasons Politics

Edwards appointed to state Tourism Board

State Sen. Chuck Edwards, who represents three tourism-rich counties, has been appointed to the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Board.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

White House drops Meadows for chief of staff role

Dropped as a candidate for White House chief of staff, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows issued a statement declaring his commitment to working with President Trump and representing the N.C. mountains.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Meadows said to be on short list for Trump chief of staff

The mentioners in the Washington press corps are placing U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows high on the list of potential successors to John Kelly as President Trump's chief of staff.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Sworn in as sheriff, Griffin names chief deputy, district captains

Lowell Griffin was sworn in as Henderson County sheriff Monday night before a nearly full house at Living Water Baptist Church. Henderson County Clerk of Court Kimberly Gasperson-Justus performed the swearing-in of the all the Sheriff's employees. Retired Superior Court Judge Zoro Guice Jr. administered the oath of office for Griffin.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Commissioners elect Hawkins as chair, thank Thompson, welcome McCall

Henderson County commissioners on Monday night unanimously elected Grady Hawkins as chair, thanked outgoing Commissioner Tommy Thompson for his 40 years of public service and welcomed a female aboard for the first time since 2002.Commissioners voted to hand the gavel to Hawkins and elected Bill Lapsley as vice chair after the swearing-in of the three board members elected on Nov. 6. Commissioners Lapsley and Michael Edney won re-election and political newcomer Rebecca McCall took the District 4 seat Thompson filled for two terms before his retirement.Hawkins, 76, thanked Edney for his service as chair during a year when he had to deal with his daughter Megan’s heart transplant. Hawkins welcomed McCall and praised Lapsley for his work on the board during his first term. A retired Air Force colonel, Hawkins served on the board from 1996 to 2004 and got back on the board in 2012. Thompson, who served as Clerk of Superior Court for 28 years before winning a seat of the Board of Commissioners in 2010, grew emotional when Hawkins presented him with a large framed photograph of the Historic Courthouse.“I have wanted one of these pictures ever since I came in office," Thompson said. He coveted the one he saw last week in Commissioner Charlie Messer’s office. “I thought to myself, I hope they give me one of those, and if you weren’t going to I was going to see to it that I got one,” he said. “My 40 years have been absolutely wonderful. I have had a tremendous at team at home. If it wasn’t for them I couldn’t have done it. They took a lot of the brunt when I had to go to a meeting, or quite frankly came home mad or whatever, but I’ve enjoyed every moment. I hope the Lord will bless all of you because I have been truly blessed with the things the Lord has given me the opportunity to do.”He praised his fellow commissioners and the county staff.“I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of wonderful people, here and at the other courthouse, chief justices, governors, all sorts of people and I can tell you that the group of people you have here in Henderson County working for your benefit and welfare is just as smart as any of those, just as worthy as any of those. They just cannot be matched. I have enjoyed every day of my service whether it be as a county commissioner or in my previous job as Clerk of Superior Court.”     Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

'Stay safe and God bless,' sheriff says as he signs off

Wishing his successor and sheriff's deputies "safety and wisdom in all the uncertain days ahead," Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald signed off for the last time through his monthly newsletter, The Guardian. In a message released just before 10 p.m. Sunday night, McDonald recounted the department's achievements under his leadership since 2012, thanked his wife, Jennie, who has "sacrificed more than I in this endeavor," and ended with six verses from Paul's letter to the Philippians. ("Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.") "While I am sad to be leaving this great community, and while I certainly had greater plans for the future of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, it was decided by a fair and honest election, that my time was done," McDonald said. "I have come to terms with that." McDonald said he was referring to the community of deputies in the department, not to relocating from his home in Mills River. "We don't know what we're going to do," he said. "I could easily move, I could easily stay. We're just going to take the next couple of months to just kind of see where we land. I don't have any job prospects and I'm not really looking for anything. I know the right thing will come along just like this job did." McDonald's term ends at 6 p.m. Monday when Lowell Griffin is sworn in as sheriff in a ceremony at Living Water Baptist Church on Sugarloaf Road. Here is the message: "Hello for the last time from my desk at the Sheriff's Office. This is the final Guardian Newsletter. I appreciate all who looked forward to the messages and agency news that it provided. As I look over the archived past letters, even I am in awe of all that has been accomplished by the men and women who have served my administration the past six years and nine months. These newsletters have captured the highlights of a collective journey made by dedicated public safety servants, through difficult challenges, change, and the pursuit of excellence in every endeavor undertaken. What a journey it has been. "By embracing new technology and the most current 'best practices' in law enforcement crime reduction, we reduced breaking and entering and property crimes five years running by nearly 50% from when we started. By implementing vigorous promotional processes and leadership development, we were able to hire and promote quality employees. Our deputies, staff, and our volunteers embraced increased professionalism and took great pride in being recognized by all of our peers, as one of the very best agencies in North Carolina. As a result, we have had an easier time recruiting than most, attracting higher caliber and dedicated men and women to fill our ranks. It also made it easier for our County Board of Commissioners to raise deputies' salaries and allow better pay for higher levels of responsibility and training a few years back."Our commitment to accountability, our emphasis on ethical and transparent operations, and our dedication to professional public service and community partnerships inspired many in our community to offer their help and expertise for the public good. "I have been able to do so because I know that as a result of the effort and commitment of all who served my administration, I leave the ship in far better shape than when I first came aboard. My administration forged a path separate from the 'good ole boy' system and restored the public trust in the time honored and esteemed Office of the Sheriff. We have proven that agency success is guaranteed when leadership sets and holds the highest reasonable standards of ethics, morality, compassion and justice. Our men and women know this and the public we serve expects this. I am proud to know that I, and the personnel that will stay behind to serve the incoming sheriff, have given every ounce of effort we could muster to serve this agency and our community. In so doing, we have left a lighted pathway for success. I wish the incoming sheriff and every member of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, safety and wisdom in all the uncertain days ahead."I have been so honored by God to have been given the time I have served as your sheriff. It was brutal at times, but so humbling and rewarding as well. I am a better man for the friends and leaders I have had the privilege to have worked alongside. My wife, Jennie, sacrificed more than I in this endeavor, yet she never regretted a moment, and stood by me through it all. We are still blessed to be very best friends and only grew closer through this time. Whatever the next mission is, we pray that it will be something we can do together. Thank you all. Stay safe and God bless."   Read Story »

Edneyville Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Greenway plan would get county in the game

Years from now, it might be possible for a bicyclist to complete a perimeter ride around Henderson County — pedaling from the Carl Sandburg home to Flat Rock Park, Jackson Park, Berkeley Mills Park, Westfeldt Park (optional stop at Sierra Nevada for a pint), Brevard and Hendersonville, via the Ecusta Trail.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics

Ethics panel raps Meadows over handling of harassment complaints against top aide

The House Ethics Committee sanctioned U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows and ordered him to reimburse the government $42,000 in a case rising from sexual harassment complaints against the congressman's chief of staff, Kenny West.   Read Story »

Four Seasons Politics Archive