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Congressional candidate Harry Taylor called Sue Myrick “a hypocrite” Friday, accusing her of inflaming voters over immigration without addressing the issue within her own family.
Taylor held a press conference outside Blue Restaurant & Bar, an Uptown eatery owned by Myrick's stepson, Alex.
Taylor, a Charlotte Democrat, said the congresswoman has looked the other way as her stepson employed illegal immigrants at Blue. Taylor called on her to return $10,000 the restaurant's investors had donated to her campaigns.
“She trying to play by two different sets of rules,” Taylor said. “One rule for us and another for her family. If she thinks we should be as rigorous as possible with illegal immigrants in this country, why is she winking at Blue?”
Myrick spokesman Hal Weatherman said Myrick has no financial interest in her stepson's restaurants. “There is no such thing as a Myrick family restaurant. Blue has stated that they have proper documentation on their workers. If the Observer has the names of people who have forged their documentation they should notify Blue and or provide the names to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Taylor cited a 2006 Observer story that confirmed at least three illegal immigrants on the payroll at Alex Myrick's restaurants, Blue and Table.
Myrick celebrated her 2006 reelection at Blue. “She's famous,” a Latino worker at Blue said about a month later. “We all know who she is. They say she won because of the Latinos.”
Alex Myrick said Friday he follows the law. He also called on Taylor and the newspaper to alert him to any illegal immigrants on his payroll. “I am unaware of any employees who are undocumented.”
Sue Myrick has been an outspoken supporter of tougher immigration laws. This week, the Charlotte Republican proposed a bill that would cut federal money to any college or university that knowingly admitted illegal immigrants.
It stems from the controversy over whether the N.C. Community College System should admit undocumented students into degree programs. The system's board of directors voted Friday to maintain its ban on admitting such students until the policy receives further study.
