From Staff Reports 

The extension of hours of operation for the Buncombe County Register of Deeds shows that Democrats in Buncombe County are engaging in “continued violation of law for political gain,” the Buncombe County GOP charged Oct. 10.

“It has come to the attention of the Buncombe County Republican Party that a group of Buncombe County commissioners has conducted both a meeting and a vote via email messages to approve an extension of hours of operation of the Buncombe County Register of Deeds Office today (Oct. 10) and perhaps this weekend to attempt to circumvent the challenges being filed by the NCGOP,” GCGOP Chairman Henry Mitchell said in an email to the Daily Planet.

“It is our understanding that North Carolina law clearly requires any such vote and/or meeting to be conducted in public and with proper notice. Upon information and belief, no such notice was given and the email meeting itself was organized and requested by Register of Deeds Drew Resinger in an attempt to allow for the filing of marriage license for same sex couples.”

Mitchell added, “The BCGOP has requested that the district attorney’s office investigate this issue fully and enforce all applicable laws on this matter.

“Further, the extension of the office hours in question represents an additional expenditure of county funds outside of the currently approved budget ordinance and may represent a misappropriation of government resources,” Mitchell said.

In response, Kathy Sinclair, chairman of the Buncombe County Democratic Party, stated in an Oct. 27 email to the Daily Planet, “Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger is a dedicated public servant committed to his job and serving all the people of Buncombe County.

“Reisinger was one of several county registers of deeds run by both Republicans and Democrats in the state to extend their hours immediately following the ruling on marriage equality  made by Judge Max Cogburn.shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014.

“In addition, a bipartisan majority of fiveBuncombe County comissioners supported his decision to keep the office open. In the end, this is nothing more than another political witch hunt by the BCGOP designed to try and distract the voters of Buncombe County from the impact of disastrous policies under the Republicans’ watch in Raleigh,” Sinclair asserted.