BARFIELD TURNS MELISSA GOTT APPOINTMENT ISSUE INTO 'CIRCUS' SAYS RHONDA AMOROSO, NH COUNTY GOP CHAIRWOMAN.

By VERNE STRICKLAND

October 10, 2011 / 11:35 am

(SEE USA DOT COM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NEW HANOVER COUNTY GOP CHAIRWOMAN RHONDA AMOROSO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS NEWS REPORT ON MELISSA GOTT NOMINATION TO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS,

'I'M FINDING MR. BARFIELD TO BE EXTREMELY ARROGANT.'

 MELISSA GOTT

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- The controversy continues with New Hanover County Commissioners in their search to fill former Chairman Ted Davis’s seat.

Last week commissioners ran into a roadblock in deciding whether to pick up Melissa Gott to act as their temporary fifth board member. But now, one commissioner says Gott has got to go.

“With me having questions in my mind as an elected official, I’m not going to put someone on our board that I have questions with,” says board chairman Jonathan Barfield.

The county's Republican party nominated Gott, but after a complaint surfaced questioning whether Gott lives in New Hanover or Brunswick County, commissioners decided to wait.

GOP Chairwoman Rhonda Amoroso says it was all part of a smear campaign against Gott.
“I think what has happened is a witch-hunt and I think there's a double standard and it looks like a war on women to me,” Amoroso says. “As a woman, I am quite offended by it.”

Commissioners unanimously decided to hand over the issue to the GOP and county board of elections. Tuesday, the party turned over a packet containing affidavits and documents proving Gott does live at her address in New Hanover County. However, Barfield says that's not enough to sway his opinion.

“There was no need for me to look through it,” Barfield says. “I mean I’ve gotten more emails from citizens who live in that area saying listen we haven't seen any kids in this home. At night, the lights are out, the whole nine yards. “

Amoroso says she hopes Barfield reconsiders and takes the time to read the packet.

“That’s disturbing to me and very disappointing,” she says. “We spent hours putting that packet together.”
Commissioner Rick Catlin says he plans to thoroughly look over the GOP’s packet on Gott before making any decision.

WWAY also reached out to both commissioners Jason Thompson and Brian Berger in reaction to the packet and Barfield’s stance. Neither has returned our phone calls as of press time.

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2012/10/09/barfield-dismisses-melissa-gott-commissioner-candidate-despite-gop-backing#.UHWY9q6z4eq

VERNE STRICKLAND INTERVIEW WITH RHONDA AMOROSO ON THIS EXPLOSIVE ISSUE. THIS TRANSCRIPTION IS ‘RAW’ COPY, TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM AUDIO RECORDING VIA TELEPHONE THIS MORNING (10:45 AM WED., OCT. 10.)

AMOROSO:
The folks seem convinced that Catlin is going to win that seat and I think they are acting in anticipation of that. You don’t know who is going to win any race.  I think there are some backroom deals underway. I don’t know what they are exactly or exactly who’s involved. There seems to be some jockeying by the good old boys on the board to get the person they want temporarily if they even go there, or they’re anticipating a vacant seat if Rick Catlin prevails in November.

That’s not a sure thing. But they’re anticipating it. That’s where they’re at. The whole thing is about a temporary action that may affect a future vacancy if that arises. If Rick Catlin were to win that House seat, he would resign and there would be a two-year vacancy. A 45-day vacancy is frankly chump change. But a two-year deal is another issue altogether.   

I’m finding Mr. Barfield to be extremely arrogant. We were at a hearing on Friday where he asked the Party (GOP) to come back with documentation to show Ms. Gott’s residency here in New Hanover County. We spent a lot of time putting the requested information together. 

We have sworn testimony affidavits, documents to prove that she clearly is a resident of New Hanover county. We even have an affidavit from the chairman of the Democrat Party, Alex Hall, attesting to this fact. So at this point, Mr. Barfield is going against his own Party Chair and his own Party. Which I find interesting.

VS:  You mentioned that Barfield appears to be refusing this appointment because of her gender? Or her party? Or some other reason?

AMOROSO: 

I am troubled by the fact that it seems they don’t want a woman on the board. And a Latino woman as well. So I’m just wondering if they have a problem with a Latino woman. If our nominee were a Democrat, they would be cheering her all the way to the White House. 

Barfield is unwittingly giving us information to go after him. And he deserves to have to answer  to his actions here. It’s been turned into a circus, and, sadly, it’s right in the middle of the election cycle, and I really need to be  focusing on the election. This is a needless, time-consuming distraction.

The New Hanover County Republican Party has done its job.  We’ve provided all the information they needed, and it’s apparent to me that Barfield had his mind made up before all this began.  It’s a real shame, I’m extremely disappointed and offended as a woman. 

ALSO SEE:  
USA Dot Com: Barfield dismisses Melissa Gott as commissioner despite GOP backing!
GOP Chairwoman Rhonda Amoroso says it was all part of a smear campaign against Gott. “I think what has happened is a witch-hunt and I think there's a double standard and it looks like a war on women to me,” Amoroso says. “As a woman, I am quite offended by it.: