Basically herself and all the Democrats on the Mecklenburg County Commission.
By saying out loud that there is no guarantee that that the commission will vote to appoint Charlotte attorney and former CMPD officer Nick Mackey county sheriff even if the state Democratic Party Council of Review validates Mackey’s selection process, Roberts has told the state party either it helps fix this thing, or she and Parks Helms go it alone.
Roberts is telling members of the panel that there is fight coming one way or another. County Democrats are going into it either with or without cover from the state party. With it, maybe the battle is confined to a rump of disgruntled local Democratic Party activists. Without it — meaning the panel validates the precinct organizing process Mackey used — Roberts, Helms, and company look like rogues to onlookers across the state and — perhaps — the nation.
Then there is the issue of a court battle. Mackey’s team still has the option to file suit against the county, but that hand would be greatly weakened should the state review panel find flaws in the organizing process which delivered vital votes to Mackey. This is also a signal to the panel that if they want to move beyond this thing, nuking the process from orbit is a good way to do that.
