Dorland Abernathy, a former Landis alderman and candidate for mayor, announced Friday that he is endorsing one of his challengers, Meredith Bare Smith, for mayor.

“I am requesting that those who have supported me in this process would cast their votes on Tuesday for Meredith Bare Smith, as did I,” Abernathy said in a statement.

Abernathy said he drove to Salisbury to vote early and did not vote for himself.

“Candidate Smith is energetic, indefatigable and willing to offer herself and her time to help our city move forward,” he said. “Far more than she deserved the searing innuendo from the mayor’s letter, she deserves your support, your vote, and your continued input into the administration of our town’s affairs. I believe she is teachable and willing to learn, and I pledge to her my willingness to encourage, to counsel, and to help her bear the mantle of leadership as mayor of the town of Landis.”

Abernathy applauded mayoral candidates Mark Connell and Smith for campaigning on togetherness. He said candidate Alby Stamey has been quiet throughout the campaign and he hasn’t heard from Alderman Bobby Brown, who also is running for mayor.

Abernathy said he appreciates those who supported him and hopes his endorsement will bring unity to Landis.

“It is time to cauterize the wounds of our town, bind up, bandage and begin a healing process,” he said in his statement. “I would like to make a small gesture toward building unity within my own corner of influence.”

Reps. Budd, Hudson vote against impeachment inquiry

The U.S. House voted to formalize an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump last Thursday, and Reps. Ted Budd, R-13, and Richard Hudson, R-8, voted against the resolution.

The 232-196 vote was partisan. Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Jeff Van Drew, D-N.J., were the only two Democrats to vote no.

Budd called the impeachment vote “a new coat of paint on a biased impeachment process.”

“As much as it pains Democrats in Congress, there is simply nothing here that rises to the level of impeaching a duly elected president,” Budd said. “Quite frankly, it’s time for the House to get back to work for the American people instead of working to take out this president.”

Hudson said the resolution doubles down on secrecy and continues to deny due process. He said Congress should be working on steps to secure the border, bipartisan legislation to lower drug prices and legislation to pay the troops.

North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley said the impeachment inquiry resolution will not be forgotten in 2020.

“After five weeks of hiding from the public, House Democrats finally put it on display for the country to see: They have no interest in governing on behalf of the American people,” Whatley said.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin said he supports the push for the truth about Trump and accusations that he violated his oath of office.

“The president of the United States has admitted to abusing his power for personal and political gain,” Goodwin said. “His personal lawyers and top administration officials have admitted it. And the Trump administration has tried to stonewall any and all investigations to avoid the American people getting the truth behind the administration’s bottomless corruption.”

Sen. Tillis, Reps. Budd, Hudson lead bill to stop sanctuary cities

Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Reps. Dan Bishop, R-9, Ted Budd R-13 and Richard Hudson, R-8, last Wednesday introduced the Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act, legislation that would help end sanctuary cities. 

The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; David Perdue, R-Georgia; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee; and Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas.

The legislation would clarify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s detainer authority; clearly establish the authority of states and localities to maintain custody in cases in which a detainer has been issued; and incentivize cooperation between law enforcement agencies and DHS through the reimbursement of certain detention, technology and litigation-related costs.

“I am proud to introduce this legislation to eliminate the excuse sheriffs are using to justify why they ignore detainer requests made by DHS,” Tillis said in a statement. “By clarifying their authority and incentivizing cooperation, we can better enforce our nation’s immigration laws and keep North Carolinians safe from dangerous criminals.”

Hudson said he will continue to work with fellow Congress members and President Trump to secure the borders.

“We are a nation of laws, and this legislation helps ensure those laws are enforced,” Hudson said. “It is a good step to crack down on sanctuary cities and protect our community from illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds.”

The introduction comes as a follow-up to the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation introduced by Tillis and Budd that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities.

“It is clear that sanctuary cities’ failure to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement has had a real cost on society, both economically and in terms of human lives,” Budd said. “That’s why in July, my colleagues and I introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, which allows families and victims of sanctuary city policies to sue the city for failing to comply with detainer requests from ICE. Now my colleagues and I are introducing legislation that goes further and incentivizes local law enforcement to comply with federal detainer requests.”