Part II(a), In our series on Loss of Public Trust: Up next: Chaos and Confusion
By Thom Roddy, published July 9, 2024
“I cannot and should not ever attempt to take unilateral action.” – Chairman Bob White, January 31, 2024
On January 31, 2024, Bob White, Chair of the Currituck Board of Commissioners, issued a public statement addressing the InsightGlobal debacle and other concerns. Many of White’s assertions in the statement have since been debunked, leading to its removal from the county website. White rightly noted that he shouldn’t take unilateral action. In fact, he shouldn’t be directing county staff either. According to Sec. 2-63. of the Code of Ordinances, the only power of the chair is to “preside at all meetings of the board.” We have heard from county staff that White interferes in the operation of government and tasks staff.
On June 20, 2024, a local resident filed a public records request for emails between commissioners from June 1, 2024, through June 20, 2024. The county returned only one email, but it piqued our interest because White appeared to be directing staff and then asked the other commissioners if they agreed with his approach. Given White’s previous statements on polling, the commissioners should have been consulted before his “suggestions” to county staff. This situation brings to mind a widely used military phrase: “A request from a superior officer is tantamount to an order.” Direction or orders to county staff are the responsibility of the county manager and department heads. The direction of the county manager comes from a majority vote by the board, not a unilateral decision by any one member, including the Chair.
White’s Unilateral Decision that Set in Motion Currituck’s Biggest Scandal
According to four commissioners we spoke with, White drafted a notice to former county manager Ike McRee, detailing areas of concern with his performance and areas of success. The October 23, 2023, document also informed McRee that his contract would not be renewed. Selina Jarvis, Vice Chair of the board, spoke with Thom Roddy, Founder of Blackwater Reports, on February 12, 2024, saying she had not seen the document before White picked her up to deliver it to McRee. “I read it in the car for the first time,” said Jarvis. She voiced concerns to White about some of the content and assumed it would be modified before delivery to McRee. It was not modified, and at least four commissioners were blindsided and unaware of the document or its delivery until after the fact. The moment Jarvis joined White to deliver notice, she too became enjoined in White’s unilateral decision. After the delivery to McRee, White emailed the board about him and Jarvis delivering the notice.
The Currituck Code of Ethics Sec. 2-87. states: “County commissioners should respect and comply with the law and should conduct themselves at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of the office of county commissioner and of county government.”
White stated, “I cannot and should not ever attempt to take unilateral action.” This series will detail how White’s statement on unilateral actions is more “do as I say, not as I do.”
As we continue this series on the Loss of Public Trust, we will provide our readers with the records supporting our reports. We report; you decide.
Documents supporting this report:
Blackwater Reports Inc. 
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