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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 speech” and told Messner to keep Kennedy’s wife’s name out of any postings. Messner asked the board to have Commissioner Kennedy repeat what he said and said he intends to file charges. Quote from the record: “Mister Kennedy threatened to suppress my freedom of speech and told me either keep his wife's name out of my mouth or something to don't involve her in politics.”
Messner also said copies of the complaint and postcard had been locked down and turned over to the county district attorney’s office and that, as a result, his party could not obtain evidence. He told the board he had spoken with a detective who began an investigation, and he questioned whether a local former commissioner (named in the comment as Beth Verderena) received preferential treatment in handling the complaint. Messner asked the commissioners to consider tabling or suspending any funding to the Newcastle Public Library until a full investigation into alleged conflicts of interest was complete.
Chair and staff responded that documents and contracts discussed in the meeting are available for public viewing; staff confirmed the district attorney had been given the complaint. Commissioners did not take any formal action in response to Messner’s specific requests during the meeting. The board proceeded with its agenda items and adjourned after the standard second public comment period.
The allegations described here were made in public comment and were not adjudicated at the hearing; the transcript records Messner’s intent to “file charges” and his request for an investigation but does not include a board directive to suspend library funding or a response from Commissioner Kennedy in the transcript.
