Griffith quits as Hickory mayor

By By William F. West / community editor
March 6, 2003
Former Hickory mayor Wayne Griffith said he hasn't made any secret of his seeking election to the Newton County District 2 Justice Court judgeship.
Griffith said he resigned as mayor earlier this week because he didn't want a conflict between serving as Hickory's chief executive and campaigning for a county judiciary position.
Griffith said the retirement of District 2 Justice Court Judge W.L. Freeman was a factor in his decision to campaign for the position.
Griffith is running as the lone Republican in a field of five Democrats and an independent. The position pays $24,288 a year.
Griffith, 53, is a minister at Beat Line Baptist Church. He served as Hickory's mayor for 10 years until announcing his resignation at the start of Hickory's Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night.
Hickory City Clerk Robin Thomas said Griffith left the meeting after reading a resignation letter to the board.
Thomas said the resignation took effect immediately and that Alderman John Brand is running Hickory's government because Brand is also the mayor pro tem.
Thomas said it'll be up to the board to set a special election. She said that no date has been set.
Thomas declined to disclose how much Hickory pays its mayor.
Griffith's resignation came just a few weeks after the state auditor, which had been investigating allegations of embezzlement of Hickory city funds, found the allegations to be unfounded.
Pete Smith, spokesman for state Auditor Phil Bryant, said that the allegations were received on Sept. 19, 2001, and that the matter was closed on Feb. 12.
Griffith declined to talk about the probe other than to say he received verbal notice of its results about two or three weeks ago, followed by a formal letter from the Audit Department.