BY STACIE LETT CAIN
The Mooresville Town Board of Commissioners’ meeting ended with applause Monday evening after commissioners approved a Resolution of No Confidence related to embattled Mayor Chris Carney’s questionable conduct.
The motion to approve the resolution, which passed 4-2, was made nearly 18 months after Carney spent several hours overnight in Town Hall with a former town contractor on October 10, 2024.
The mayor has repeatedly said that nothing inappropriate happened, but three former town employees who have filed federal lawsuits against the town have cast doubts on Carney’s version of events and raised concerns about town administration’s efforts to cover up his conduct — and sued the town for wrongful termination. According to one of the lawsuits, security video shows “Carney and the accompanying woman moving through Town Hall hallways and interior spaces, and it further shows Mayor Carney in a state of partial or complete undress, with his genitalia exposed.”
Commissioner Dana Tucker, who was elected in 2025, presented the Resolution of No Confidence in the mayor.
Citing the mayor’s actions on October 10, 2024, Tucker said that Carney had violated the Town Board’s Code of Conduct and caused irreparable harm to the town.
“The fabric of trust that we have with the citizens of Mooresville has not just been torn,” Tucker explained. “It has been tattered and destroyed.”
Tucker said it was necessary for the board to take action.
“If we do nothing, what we permit we promote,” the commissioner said. “What we do not condemn we condone. I encourage us at the end of this discussion to consider the board accountability mechanisms available. If we do nothing, we further damage our credibility and widen the breach of the public trust. We, in fact, mock our code of ethics.”
Carney, who recused himself from the discussion of the motion, asked that his apology stand for something. He previously stated that he had mixed alcohol and prescription medication and became ill after going to Town Hall to retrieve a cell phone.
“I have said this many times — I could not apologize more or feel worse about this situation,” the mayor said. “The evening that we are talking about I practiced poor judgment.”
Carney acknowledged that his actions had “hurt” the town, his wife and his children.
“I would change it a million times over if I could,” the mayor said.
Two commissioners who voted in support of the Resolution of No Confidence said their votes reflected the opinions of many of their constituents.
“This is a very hard decision to make for many of us,” Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Dingler said. “But this decision goes beyond me as a person and my personal feelings. I represent the citizens of Mooresville, and I have to do that to the best of my ability.”
Commissioner Eddie Karriker also commented about the difficultly the situation created by Carney’s actions and the challenge facing the Town Board.
“Tonight, I speak not from my personal sentiment but on behalf of the many citizens that have reached out to me over the last several months,” he explained. “The collective sentiment has been frustration, disappointment, embarrassment and lack of confidence in Mayor Carney. The accumulation of lawsuits, the media posts and lack of explanations of many actions taken while in office have all come to a difficult but clear request: that the Mayor put the citizens of Mooresville, its board and its staff first and respectfully step down in his role as mayor.”
Commissioners Frank Owens and Will Aven opposed the motion.
Related
♦ Former political opponent accuses Mooresville mayor of inappropriate, unethical conduct
♦ New federal lawsuit alleges conspiracy to target whistleblower, protect Mooresville mayor