Hardin admits that he supported Democrat candidates and voted for them.
PARTIALLY TRUE. In Cumberland County, local candidates were either “conservative democrats” or “liberal democrats”. If you wanted to vote for local candidates (such as District Attorney, District Court Judges, etc.), you had to vote in the democratic primary. For quite some time, there were no Republican candidates in the Cumberland County local elections. I have NEVER voted for nor contributed to a national democratic candidate such as Obama.
He claims that the only choice in Fayetteville was between conservative democrats and liberal democrats. Not true. Here are just some of the Republicans that Hardin passed over to vote for Democrats: Pat McCrory, Dan Forest, Elizabeth Dole, Richard Burr and George Little. (These files are too big to attach but you can verify them on the Cumberland County Board of Elections website)
FALSE. Pat McCrory, Dan Forest, Elizabeth Dole, Richard Burr and George Little were not local candidates. I voted for Republican candidates in the general election. Further, my wife and I have contributed to Pat McCrory, Dan Forest, and Richard Burr, as well as other Republican candidates/causes over the last decade totaling $21,061.57. George Little presently serves on my campaign committee.
It's a low blow to call out someone on their health, but since the lies are out there, let's just compare... Arthur is a guy who played high school and collegiate sports... he works out almost daily, and his hobby is medieval fighting complete with
chain mail, metal armor, swords and jousting
. Does this sound like a sickly weakling to you?
FALSE. I have not “called out” Donadio on his health. Donadio told me, and others, that he closed his law office and took the position in the DA’s office to have a “less stressful” job and for insurance benefits.
Mike, on the other hand, announced at a recent forum that he needed to stretch because sitting made his back hurt.
TRUE. In July 2018, I was in a horrific car crash, while driving to work. I am lucky to be alive! I broke my back and sternum. I wore a back brace for nearly six months. I still experience discomfort at times. I agree that it is a low blow to call someone out on their health. My back injury has never prevented me from doing my job. In fact, in August 2018, I tried before a jury, a double capital murder case, while in a back brace. The trial lasted three months and I obtained guilty verdicts for 2 counts of First Degree Murder.
I see Arthur's work ethic in play on a daily basis - and have seen it for almost 25 years. He is tireless. He does his work, and willingly takes on work for others. He is a masterful trial attorney, and a great colleague. He still works "in the field" with officers - even going out to late night traffic checkpoints and crime scenes.
I have always had a good relationship with law enforcement. The officers know that they can call me at any time, day or night. I am often called out to the scene of serious felonies and homicides. I am endorsed by both the Hoke County Sheriff (Democrat) and the Scotland County Sheriff (Republican). I am endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police. I am supported by local law enforcement.
Here are just three facts they don't want you to know:
1) Not one but two of Hardin's supporters are disbarred attorneys (Southerland and Blalock) who lost their law licenses for embezzling - Hardin's office gave them both a pass ...no charges were filed! Blalock is openly campaigning and fundraising in Moore County for Hardin.
PARTIALLY TRUE: I presently have over 128 donors to my campaign for District Attorney.
https://www.ncsbe.gov/Campaign-Finance
Harry Southerland attended a public event in Hoke County. I did not solicit funds from Harry Southerland. However, I received a $100 contribution from him. Southerland was disbarred in 2013.
I have never received funds from Lisa Blalock. Lisa Blalock surrendered her law license on January 24, 2020.
The NC State Bar notifies the District Attorney’s office if there is suspected criminal activity. The NC State Bar has not notified the District Attorney’s office of any criminal activity involving Lisa Blalock. Trust Account violations by attorneys do not always rise to the level of criminal conduct. I have not been provided with any information from the NC State Bar concerning Ms. Blalock, other than what is contained in the Order of Disbarment.
2) Hardin's failed judicial campaign owes his wife $40,000.00. They carried over this debt to the DA campaign and can use this campaign to pay off that debt.
FALSE. Victoria and I contributed $40,000 (CASH) of our own money for my Judicial campaign in 2016. This loan was in addition to us contributing thousands of dollars to the judicial campaign through both cash and additional in-kind contributions, totaling approximately $23,408.03. The accountant recorded the $40,000.00 as a loan to the campaign since it was a cash contribution from us. At the conclusion of the 2016 election, $4,634.58 (CASH) remained in the account. In 2019, the account was re-named “Hardin for District Attorney”. The $4,634.58 (CASH) remained in the account for over 3 years. If we intended on repaying the $40,000 loan to ourselves, we could have removed the $4,634.58 (CASH) at any time.
My wife and I have already spent over $40,000 of our own personal funds on the current campaign for District Attorney. My wife and I have saved and planned for this campaign. My wife has her own law firm and earns a good income.
3) Hardin touts himself as an successful prosecutor of sex cases, yet his District (Hoke and Scotland) have a shameful track record.
Scotland County has a ZERO percent conviction rate according to report. published last year (Moore County was ranked above average with a 42% conviction rate)
FALSE. In March 2019, the Carolina Public Press, a media group, analyzed limited North Carolina statewide court data on sexual assaults. In conducting this analysis, the Carolina Public Press only analyzed certain categories of data, under very specific parameters. The statistics were flawed and it was called to the attention of Carolina Public Press. Had the cases been properly analyzed, Hoke County’s conviction rate would have been accurately reported as 87.50%. Members of Carolina Public Press graciously discussed these cases and the statistics with me. Carolina Public Press acknowledged errors in data received from the Administrative Office of the Courts and information that may have been inaccurately reported to calculate the statistical rate of conviction for Hoke County. The Hoke County District Attorney’s Office requested that Carolina Public Press issue a retraction or clarification. However, since no direct media articles cited statistics for Hoke County, they declined to issue a retraction or clarification.
You are free to share any of this information if you want. It is all verifiable. It is sad that this desperate Fayetteville politico has to resort to a whispery smear campaign instead of relying on facts.
In conclusion, the continued misinformation being distributed to members of the Moore County Republican party in an effort to influence this election should be closely scrutinized.
I am available to answer questions. I encourage you to do your own research.
Mike Hardin
Republican Candidate for District Attorney
