Kim Porter was one of many Rowan residents attending the recent July 8 Rowan County Board of Elections meeting. Many attending could not understand why Chair Dave Collins conducted the meeting as he did. Here’s Porter’s commentary and a copy of the agenda for the meeting.

I attended Rowan County Board of Elections last week, and experienced the chair quieting a Black member who wanted to “discuss” the motion on the floor (as in the Roberts Rules of Order). He told her in an un-gentlemanly manner there would be no discussion. He then turned to a white member and asked “what did she want to ‘discuss’ or ‘talk’ about.” For the chair of this board to be so obviously rude, if not racist, should be brought to the state’s attention.

— Kim Porter

The agenda from the July 8 meeting of the Rowan County Board of Elections.