Share
Gov. Beverly Perdue asked for - and received - the resignation of N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Commission Chairman Doug Fox today, just hours after newspapers provided Perdue's office with a copy of a racist photo illustration sent from Fox’s e-mail address following last November's election.
The e-mail included an altered photo of the White House that turned the South Lawn into an enormous watermelon patch. The phrase, “There goes the neighborhood...” was printed above the photo.
The e-mail was sent from Fox’s law firm address on Nov. 14, ten days after Barack Obama was elected president. The message, which had been forwarded multiple times by others before reaching Fox, contained no text other than a subject line: "how true."
Fox made no mention of the e-mail in his resignation letter, instead suggesting that he was leaving voluntarily.
“I believe it is time to surrender the helm to someone new,” Fox wrote.
But Perdue indicated in a statement today that the resignation was linked to the e-mail.
“I have accepted Doug Fox’s letter of resignation,” Perdue said.
“Emails and images of this nature are offensive and unacceptable.”
Fox, who was paid $110,000 last year, offered to stay on and help his successor settle in. Perdue declined.
"The resignation will be effective immediately," said David Kochman, Perdue's communications director.
The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer contacted Fox last Thursday through the ABC Commission staff and e-mailed him at his law firm on Monday seeking comment. He did not respond. Fox also has served for the last year as president of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, which represents the 19 states with government-run liquor sales.
On Tuesday morning, the newspapers showed the e-mail to Perdue’s staff and asked for comment.
The lobbyist who received the e-mail from Fox, Bill Hester, refused to speak with the newspapers when contacted by phone and e-mail. He represents Southern Wine & Spirits, a major liquor distributor.
Copies of the image have been bouncing around e-mail boxes across the country for months. The mayor of a small southern California city, Los Alamitos, resigned in February amid criticism for sending the same watermelon patch photo.
Fox was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Easley in 2004. He is the state's top liquor regulator, but the commission's power is limited. It handles liquor law violation cases, sets prices and runs the state warehouse from which all ABC stores buy their liquor. The stores, though, are run by local ABC boards.
mjohnson@charlotteobserver.com or 919-829-4774
