Spaulding slams Cooper over court cases

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ken Spaulding Tuesday sought to link rival Roy Cooper to N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican lawmakers.

Spaulding made his comments before meeting with a handful of supporters at a Gastonia restaurant.

The 71-year-old Durham lawyer criticized the Democratic attorney general for defending Republican-passed laws involving teacher tenure, grants to allow students to attend private schools and voting changes – what one radio ad calls “the most restrictive voter suppression laws in America.”

He contrasted that to Cooper’s refusal to challenge a court decision that overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Cooper, whose campaign declined to comment or respond, has said defending laws he personally disagrees with is part of his job as attorney general.

“He had a choice,” Spaulding said. “If he disagrees, why does he continue to jump when Republicans tell him to jump? Is he saying same-sex marriage rights are more important than the voting rights for all North Carolinians?”

Cooper has a significant advantage in the March 15 primary, and not only in name recognition. The most recent campaign finance reports showed he had $3 million on hand to Spaulding’s $51,000.

Spaulding appears to embrace his underdog role.

At times sounding like Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Spaulding criticized “the establishment wing” of his party and dismisses questions about his lack of endorsements. “I’d much rather have the endorsements of the people of this state,” he said.

Spaulding said he’s “not a politician,” even though he spent six years in the state House and chaired the Legislative Black Caucus. And he’s campaigned for governor for more than two years.

On Tuesday he met with five supporters at Gastonia’s Lotus Bar & Eatery, part of a daylong swing through Gaston County.

Speaking to a reporter, Spaulding also criticized Cooper’s refusal to retry the manslaughter case against former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Randall “Wes” Kerrick.

Kerrick was charged in September 2013 with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell, 24, who wrecked his car and banged on a nearby door for help. Kerrick, one of three officers responding to a call for a breaking-and-entering, shot Ferrell 10 times.

When the jury deadlocked 8-4 to acquit Ferrell, a mistrial was declared. Cooper, whose office handled the prosecution, announced that he would not refile the charges because prosecutors didn’t think they could get a conviction. The charges were dropped.

Spaulding said by not retrying the case, Cooper “made himself both judge and jury.”

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Spaulding slams Cooper over court cases."