Republican Mayor Chris Carney of Mooresville, North Carolina, has defied calls to resign after the town’s Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 in a no-confidence resolution following revelations he was caught on surveillance video walking around town hall without pants alongside a female staffer in 2024.
Board Finds Ethics Violation, But Cannot Force Removal
During Monday’s meeting, commissioners heard testimony alleging Carney violated the town’s code of ethics during the late-night incident. The mayor recused himself before the vote but remains defiant, citing the passage of time since the 2024 occurrence. “You’ve got to remember, this was in 2024,” Carney said. “It’s been so long ago, and obviously, as I tell people, I was fighting through a lot of stuff at the time.” Commissioner Gary West stated the mayor’s conduct “were not in keeping with the expected conduct of the mayor’s office.”
Multiple Lawsuits Reveal Disturbing Details
The scandal resurfaced in January when former IT employee Jeff Noble filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation for his handling of the surveillance footage. Noble claimed the video showed Carney walking around without pants on multiple occasions. Former IT director Chris Lee filed a separate lawsuit last month, alleging he was pressured to delete or suppress the video. Lee provided more graphic details, stating he witnessed Carney completely unclothed and visibly aroused, contradicting the mayor’s explanation that he became ill after mixing alcohol and anxiety medication.
Community Trust Shredded, Officials Say
Commissioner Dana Tucker expressed deep concern about the damage to public confidence. “There is a perception that the fabric of trust has not just been torn, but it is shredded and tattered,” Tucker said during the meeting. Residents applauded calls for Carney’s resignation. The mayor apologized for the incident’s impact on the community but acknowledged he cannot be recalled or disqualified due to the censure. Carney served as a state senator from 2011 to 2013 and returned to local politics by winning the mayoral race in 2023. He has 19 months remaining in his term and says he will not seek reelection.