Turns out David Saacks, the new Durham DA can’t actually, uh, be the Durham DA.
A new North Carolina law says political vacancies can’t be filled by people who aren’t eligible to vote for the position. Saacks–by all accounts a good choice–lives in Wake County and he doesn’t want to move.
Governor Easley’s office has an interesting position. Easley signed the law before Saacks was sworn in, and he (and his staff) never mentioned/explained the apparent legal conflict. This is how they’re solving it now: “the governor has powers granted to him by the state constitution that trump the new legislation.” No word yet on specifics. I’m hoping it involves something cool like laser-beam eyes.
