Warren responds to DSS Board removal, pleased with accomplishments | News

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Commissioners in Brunswick County have decided to remove a fellow Commissioner from the Department of Social Services Board.

Monday night, they voted 4 to 1 to remove Warren from the board. He served as the chairman.

Warren said he believes commissioners lack the legal authority to remove him from the social services board. Warren had fellow board member Patricia Sykes and a reporter from the Brunswick Beacon removed from a DSS board meeting in December after he said they were out of order.

Then at the county commissioners meeting in December, Chairman Bill Sue had Warren removed from that meeting after Sue said Warren was out of order.

"I think if I'm going to be suspended from [the DSS] board, we need to bring up a motion to remove [Sue] from [the county commissioners] board," Warren said.

Bill Sue said there was no comparison between the two meetings. He said Warren was flinging his arms around at the Commissioners meeting and was causing a disruption. Sue said the people thrown out of the DSS meeting were not causing a commotion.

"I don't think it was behavior that was conducive to the good will and the purpose of Brunswick County government," Sue said.

Commissioner Warren also suspended Patricia Sykes for the rest of her term at the DSS meeting in December. Warren said he reinstated her after did some research and realized he didn't have the authority to do that.

Commissioner Sue said if Warren knew he didn't have the authority to suspend her, he also did not have the power to reinstate her.

Warren also brought up the issue of race at tonight's hearing. Bill Sue said this had nothing to do with race.

"That card's been played quite a few times and if you look at the history of my serving as a commissioner, I've appointed more African Americans to boards in this county than any other commissioner, ever," Sue said.

After his removal from the DSS Board, Warren said he may have misspoke when he alluded that some of his fellow commissioners were racists.

"They're not racist and if I said it, I apologize," said Warren.  "A lot of the actions they're using could be perceived to be racist."

Commissioners tried to hold a similar hearing January but Warren filed a temporary restraining order and stopped it.  A judge later ruled the commissioners can go ahead with a hearing to remove Warren form the board.

After the meeting, Warren did not offer a comment.  Tuesday morning, he sent local news organizations a letter regarding the situation.  Click here to read Warren's statement.

Warren said Tuesday he's glad the whole incident is over.  He said he has nothing against any of the commissioners, but is still exploring his options for taking legal actions and hasn't decided if it's worth the trouble.

This is the second commissioner in the area to get booted from his seat on a county DSS Board.  New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger was not re-appointed to his position on that county's DSS Board.  Warren said there's a big difference between he and Berger - criminal history.

"Berger.  He's probably been arrested a lot of times," said Warren.  "I haven't ever been arrested.  I'm an upstanding citizen in the Brunswick County area."

Warren said under his leadership at DSS, the county drastically reduced how long it takes for people to get the services they need.

"I'm
pleased with what I've accomplished and what I feel I'm going to accomplish
with the help of God within me," said Warren.

Warren said he will consider running for re-election, but has not
made any decisions at this time.  He is also thinking about running for a
House seat.

Commissioners elected Elsie Peterson to fill Warrens vacant seat.

Related stories:

• Judge: Commissioners can remove Warren from DSS Board
• Judge to decide if commissioners can remove anyone from DSS Board
• Restraining order postpones DSS Board hearing to remove Warren
• Upcoming hearing will determine Warren's future on the DSS Board

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.