In a letter to Earl Smith, a former Weldon town commissioner and owner of the 51 Sycamore restaurant, which is located in the town, state Board of Elections investigator Marshall Tutor tells him, “This office has received information that you attempted to buy votes in the November, 2013 Weldon Mayor's race.”
The January 13 letter states, “I have a statement that you offered several people a 'free meal' and $5 gift certificate to anyone who would vote for Johnny Draper. This is a Class I felony.”
The letter does not name a complainant in the matter, but does encourage Mr. Smith to contact the investigator as it is a serious matter.
Mr. Smith said this morning he has an idea of who is behind the complaint but declined to elaborate. He did say he believes it may be linked to a pending alienation of affection lawsuit he filed relating to his divorce as well as a countersuit regarding the same matter.
The allegations were not made to the county board of elections office, Halifax County elections Supervisor Kristin Smith said today.
At this point, Mr. Smith has not been informed on when further action on the allegations will take place.
Mr. Smith responded to Tutor's letter three days ago, also confirming a telephone conversation he had with the investigator since receiving it.
“If the allegation(s) made against me were not so serious, they would almost be hilarious,” Mr. Smith says in the letter. “But, I fully understand that allegations have been made and an investigation is necessary.”
Mr. Smith tells Tutor, “The allegation is untrue. I have never offered anyone anything to vote for anybody, and really don't consider myself to be that stupid. No matter how much money someone offered someone for a vote, they would certainly have no control over that vote behind a closed curtain.”
Mr. Smith confirms in the letter he gives away dozens of $5 gift cards every month. “Believe it or not, none have been used. To me they are a form of advertisement. It was my desire to get the person with the gift card in the door to spend more money. I honestly believe that I have never given a gift card to a citizen of Weldon under any circumstance.”
Mr. Smith explains his restaurant is controlled by a point of sale machine and all orders go through the system to be cooked. “That means even mine, which I am also billed for. My (point of sale) machine will show there has never been a free meal given to anyone in the short history of 51 Sycamore.”
Smith explains to Tutor that he did put out the word he would give a $5 gift card to any individual who could prove they voted early. “The cards were in my restaurant and my employees were instructed to give them out with proof of early vote.”
A signup sheet for the promotion specifically says, however, that Mr. Smith did not tell the person to vote for any particular person, “But, just to show my patriotism and vote early.”
Wrote Mr. Smith: “I feel the allegations were made because the person making them did not actually believe them, or even thought (of) them, but because of other personal issues. And personal reasons should not be used to waste taxpayer's money for an an investigation. I am sure you have more important things to do.”
The state Board of Elections office did not immediately return a phone call today.
