‘SUMMEYVILLE:’ NAN wants DOJ to investigate N. Charleston mayor for possible voter intimidation

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Election night remarks by newly re-elected North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey have the National Action Network calling on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate him for possible voter intimidation. Wednesday, the Rev. Nelson Rivers and other members of the National Action Network called a press conference to demand an apology from Summey for comments he made in an election night victory speech, calling his statements “beneath the dignity of the office of mayor of North Charleston.” “You should win with honor and lose with dignity,” Rev. Rivers said. “[Summey] won. I can’t understand why he felt the need to be so negative and to threaten people.” Here’s what Summey said with supporters and media present at an election night celebration: “It was a rather nasty election, and I will not forget the nastiness, and there will be some retribution in the future for it.” On Sunday, Summey addressed his remarks in an interview with The Post and Courier, conceding he made a poor choice in words before clarifying what he says he meant. “By retribution I mean that we are going to make sure we do what needs to be done in the communities that need it,” Summey said. “Don‘t sit here and fight us in trying to make communities better. If I have a chance to do something in your neighborhood and you‘re going to resist and I‘ve got another neighborhood that‘s willing to work with me, I‘m not going to waste my time with you.” Those follow-up remarks appear to be the impetus for the NAN‘s calls on the Department of Justice to look into Summey for possible voter intimidation. “[D]enying services to voters in communities that offend him could be seen as an attempt to retaliate against … and intimidate black voters and candidates in future elections,” the NAN said in a press release. NAN leaders went on to say Summey needed to be reminded he is Mayor of North Charleston, not mayor of “Summeyville,” and his job is to represent “fairly and equally all citizens” of the city. In response, Summey‘s office released the following statement: “It’s Veterans Day. Today should be spent honoring our veterans, not making a political stand.” Summey pulled in 6,216 votes to nearest competitor John Singletary’s 3,203 in the Nov. 3 election to win his sixth term in office. Photo courtesy of WCIV