Mayor Chris Carney says despite mounting pressure and a formal request from town commissioners, he plans to stay in office.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Mooresville commissioners voted 4-2 no confidence in the mayor after lawsuits revealed a late night incident over a year ago. Mayor Chris Carney tells WCNC Charlotte he won’t.
The lawsuits, filed by three former Mooresville employees, say Carney retaliated against them after they reported surveillance footage of Carney showing up to the town hall after midnight with a woman and later walking through the building in a state of partial undress.
At the Monday night vote, Carney denied any wrongdoing, saying he became ill after drinking and removed his pants because of that and that he went back to Mooresville Town Hall late at night because he forgot his phone.
The symbolic vote sent a political message, but it carries no legal force.
According to North Carolina municipal government law, a mayor can’t simply be fired by the board of commissioners.
Despite the vote, for the mayor to be removed, Carney remains in power.
It’s ultimately up to him to officially step down, but he said that’s not happening.
“I have no interest in resigning,” Carney said.
Carney says he’s received a wave of support telling him to stay as mayor.
“I’ve got hundreds of texts and phone calls asking me not to,” Carney said. “That outpouring was pretty powerful.”
Carney said his term consists of 19 more months and, for now, he will be focusing on getting things done and doing right by his citizens.
“I work for 58,000 people, I’m going to get up every day and continue to do that,” Carney said.
If a mayor does not resign, termination can be done through legal action through the courts. So far, none of that has happened in this case.
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