民主学校董事会候选人Rick Southerland因与注册的性罪犯进行竞选而面临反弹, Democratic school board candidate Rick Southerland faces backlash for campaigning with a registered sex offender, sparking calls to withdraw.

在新汉诺威县民主党得知他与James Darius “Jaymes” Osborne一起生活并开展运动后,民主学校董事会候选人Rick Southerland面临退出的压力,后者是注册的性罪犯,2020年因持有儿童性虐待材料被联邦判定有罪。 Democratic school board candidate Rick Southerland faces pressure to withdraw after the New Hanover County Democratic Party learned he lives with and campaigns alongside James Darius “Jaymes” Osborne, a registered sex offender with a 2020 federal conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material. 该党批评Southerland没有披露Osborne的犯罪历史,称这是对社区的危险和对信任的破坏,并宣布计划更严格地审查候选人。 The party criticized Southerland for failing to disclose Osborne’s criminal history, calling it a risk to the community and a breach of trust, and announced plans for stricter candidate vetting. Southerland为这一疏忽道歉,以缺乏经验为借口,但拒绝了下台的请求,认为他没有做错什么,为Osborne辩护,认为Osborne是虐待儿童的幸存者,他认为他的案件是错误的。 Southerland apologized for the omission, citing inexperience, but rejected the request to step down, maintaining he did nothing wrong and defending Osborne as a survivor of childhood abuse whose case he believes was wrongful. 在3月13日县级点票前，竞选仍在进行中。 The race remains active ahead of the March 13 county canvass.