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Public commenter alleges commissioner threatened to suppress speech, urges suspension of library funding pending investigation
Summary
During public comment at the Dec. 2 Wilkes County meeting, Bill Messner, chairman of the Constitution Party of Lawrence County, accused Commissioner Kennedy of threatening to suppress his speech during a Nov. 26 encounter, said an election complaint had been forwarded to the district attorney and requested suspension of Newcastle Public Library funding until an investigation is complete.
Bill Messner, identifying himself as chairman of the Constitution Party of Lawrence County, used both public comment periods at Tuesday’s Wilkes County Board of Commissioners meeting to raise an election‑related complaint and to press for an investigation.
Messner said he visited the commissioners’ office on Nov. 26 about 9:45 a.m. to retrieve a copy of an election complaint and evidence and that, while standing at the counter, he spoke to an administrator. Messner alleged that Commissioner Kennedy then approached and “threatened to suppress my freedom of…
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