CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Newly elected state Rep. Nick Mackey was a no-show at the Mecklenburg County courthouse on Tuesday.

Mackey sent an attorney instead to file an appearance and get a new court date.

Mackey is charged with a misdemeanor in connection with a $100,000 judgment against his law firm for unpaid rent. Mackey had said he would sort out what he called a mix-up during Tuesday's court appearance and he hung up the phone when NewsChannel 36 reporter Rad Berky tried to ask why he did not show up.

His next court date is now set for Feb. 3.

The misdemeanor charge is just the latest legal issue that could make Mackey's start as a freshman state legislator a tough one. But Mackey's supporters are unwavering.

“They need to leave him alone,” said one voter.

“I do believe in him as a person, as a leader and I'm happy that he got elected,” a second voter said. “He’s a lawyer, a good lawyer.”

Only the North Carolina State Bar doesn't seem to agree. The group that regulates lawyers just reprimanded him for not properly representing a client and not bothering to respond to the state about the complaints.

When asked if there are concerns about Mackey’s ethics, supporter Gariann Yochyn replied, “No, I'm not concerned about his.”

On Tuesday, Mackey was supposed to go before a judge on a misdemeanor involving not paying the rent.

When asked if Mackey is still best person to represent, Yochyn said yes.

These two are just the latest problems Mackey's encountered.

Last January the state overturned his election to be Mecklenburg County sheriff after a NewsChannel 36 investigation uncovered evidence he rigged the precincts that helped win him the vote.

“It’s like come on, give the guy a break,” said Yochyn.

Univeristy of North Carolina at Charlotte political science professor Eric Heberling said,”It’s the pattern that's more troubling than any particular charge against him.”

And he said he worries while the voters may not be concerned, others in the state house might.

“Politics in a legislative setting is about trust. You're not gonna cut deals with somebody if you don't think they're gonna follow through on their end of the bargain.”

Meaning the freshman legislator may have a tough go of it.

Mackey says the charge is a misunderstanding and he already turned over the documents from his law firm. Mackey says he plans to pay off the $85,094 for breach of contract and $12,764 for attorneys' fees in the unpaid rent case.

Mackey defeated Republican Dempsey Miller of Huntersville earlier this past year to represent House District 99 after beating six-term incumbent Drew Saunders in the primary.

(The Associated Press contributed to this article)