But the board is looking at ways to keep him from representing the board. Some concerned citizens say they are so outraged, they plan to protest the next meeting.
CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. -- Cabarrus County Commissioner Coy Privette says the board can't legally remove him from office, but his fellow board members are trying to find other ways in the legal system to keep him from representing the board.
Privette pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting prostitution a couple of weeks ago. Privette says he knows the board can't legally make him resign. He's right because he is elected and because he only pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. The board knows it, too.
Every board member but Privette voted to have the county attorney explore legal options.
Cabarrus County Commission Chairman Bob Carruth started the meeting off with an explanation as to why they are moving forward with trying to remove Privette.
Coy Privette
"I think it's proper for him to handle his criminal charges without our involvement," said Carruth.
The board is considering removing Privette from all board-appointed committees, removing him from all the boards he serves on as a liason, and prohibiting him from officially representing the board at out-of-county functions.
They are also outlining what needs to be done to censure him.
When asked his reaction to the board's move, Privette said simply, "The course has been set."
When the board was voting, Privette was visibly shaking a bit, but for the rest of the board meeting it was business as usual.
Thierry Wernaers was at the meeting and is outraged by Privette's run-in with the law.
"I just want him to resign," he said.
He says Privette just wants to move on like nothing happened, so he's organizing a protest against him at the next County Commission meeting. He is soliciting e-mails from residents explaining why Privette should resign and plans to hand them to Privette at that meeting.
"He has built his whole political career on the moral values of people and judging other people. Now that he has done something wrong, he hasn't concluded the same that he has in the past with other people."
The county attorney is expected to look into the legal options and present them to the commissioners at the next board meeting on Sept. 17.