Update N.C. A&T suspends Fox —with pay.

Greensboro City Council District 2 candidate Jamal Fox says he’s still in the race and is still working as an adjunct professor at N.C. A&T. Meanwhile, the N&R reports Fox was convicted of DWI in 2011. Questionable circumstances surround Fox’s DWI charge:

Fox’s DWI happened in February 2011. He told a police officer he was struck by a tan Honda turning at the intersection of Vandalia and Randleman roads, according to the police report.

The officer said he didn’t see evidence to prove Fox’s statement, the report said. The officer concluded Fox’s vehicle ran off the road and struck a utility pole.

Fox had a blood alcohol level of .12, according to the police report. The legal limit is .08.

He was found guilty and given a 60-day suspended sentence. He also received a sentence of 12 months of unsupervised probation and had to pay $560 in court costs and fines.

The N&R says Fox’s DWI was uncovered “during a routine search of candidates and their backgrounds,” but the timing of the report needless to say is interesting, especially since it’s the same day that the paper endorses Fox’s opponent, District 2 incumbent Jim Kee.

Yesterday the N&R endorsed District 1 challenger Sharon Hightower over incumbent Dianne Bellamy-Small, pretty much because Bellamy-Small doesn’t play ball with the local media, especially —you guessed it — the N&R. For what it’s worth, the Rhino gave Bellamy-Small a little love, albeit grudgingly:

It’s always surprising to see District 1 Councilmember Dianne Bellamy-Small at a candidates’ forum, because at candidates’ forums Bellamy-Small is engaging, funny and warm. It is not the same Bellamy-Small who shows up at council meetings and is cold, distant and surly. But Bellamy-Small has not been reelected to the City Council five times by not knowing how to campaign.

Again, overall a pretty poor selection of candidates in this year’s City Council race. Honestly, I would stay home, and while I believe we have the right to do nothing in this country, I personally don’t believe that. So I’ll be pulling the lever for somebody on Tuesday, but it won’t be with a clear conscience.