RALEIGH — North Carolina State Board of Elections member Bob Rucho resigned from the board Thursday morning.
“I’m thankful for Bob Rucho’s service on the State Board of Elections,” State Auditor Dave Boliek, who oversees the board, said in a press release. “He led on election integrity and helped make it easy to vote and hard to cheat in North Carolina’s elections.
“This office has high standards for its board members, and Angela Hawkins will continue the good work being done by the State Board. She brings valuable experience, having served as chair of the elections board of North Carolina’s largest county.”
The N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE) held a brief emergency meeting at 12:30 p.m. acknowledging Rucho’s resignation and addressing some county vacancies.
Hawkins, a Wake County Elections Board member, was also sworn in. Hawkins has been replaced on that board by Donna Williams.
Rucho, a Republican, had drawn criticism for weighing in on the race between Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page in a post on his personal Facebook page.
Campaign contribution records show Rucho donated to two candidates since becoming an NCSBE member last May: Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown and Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell.
Under North Carolina law, elections board members are barred from making such contributions.
A spokesperson from the auditor’s office indicated the donations were part of the reason for the resignation.
North State Journal requested a copy of his resignation letter from Boliek’s office.
Aside from the greeting and Rucho’s name closing the letter, it offered no explanation and contained three sentences:
“I am formally announcing my resignation from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. It has been a great honor to serve on the State Board. My colleagues on the State Board, along with staff, have been professional, operated with integrity, and showed true dedication to public service. Thank you for this opportunity.”
