Gaston County Sheriff Cloninger changing courses in dramatic fashion
Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger changed his political party on Wednesday and also announced he would not run for re-election next year.
Cloninger had announced in May he would be seeking a fourth full term as sheriff after first being appointed in 2005.
Cloninger, 64, went to the Gaston County Board of Elections office on Wednesday afternoon and switched his party affiliation from Democrat to unaffiliated, according to county election records. Throughout my life, I have been a conservative Democrat as my father and family have always been, Cloninger wrote in a statement.
Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger announced this week he will seek a fourth term in the upcoming 2022 election.
“It’s been my honor to serve the citizens of Gaston County for the last 17 years as your sheriff, Cloninger wrote in a statement released by his campaign. Throughout my tenure, I have worked diligently to serve and protect all of our citizens and the county. Working with the brave deputies, detention officers and our administrative staff we have always put the interest of public safety and service first.”
Cloninger, 64, has been sheriff since 2005, first appointed to the position after the retirement of the late Leroy Russell. He first won election in 2010, again in 2014 and in 2018.
Gaston County Board of Commissioners to discuss ordinance requiring 24 hours notice before protests
Gaston County commissioners discuss changes to protest ordinance By Paige Pauroso | February 23, 2021 at 6:05 PM EST - Updated February 23 at 6:58 PM
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Gaston County commissioners will discuss a proposed ordinance on Tuesday night that would implement rules and regulations for public protests in the county.
The latest draft of the ordinance states that notification of county officials would be required for gatherings of 25 people or more, a notification form would need to be completed, protests within 50 feet of any county buildings would be prohibited and 24 hour notice would be required prior to a protest.
Gaston County commissioners again failed to approve an ordinance which would require those planning mass gathering events on county property to first register with the county sheriff or other county officials.
The five commissioners present at Tuesday s meeting voted unanimously to approve the mass gathering ordinance, which would require groups of 25 or more people to notify county officials ahead of assembling on county property.
Commissioners Tracy Philbeck, Bob Hovis, Chad Brown, Kim Johnson and Board Chairman Tom Keigher voted to approve the measure.
Two commissioners, Vice Chairman Allen Fraley and Commissioner Ronnie Worley, were absent Tuesday night, which means the ordinance will be considered again at the board s March 23 meeting. It will need a simple majority on that date to pass.