Commissioner steps down

CONCORD, N.C. -- The Cabarrus County commissioner convicted of prostitution charges is stepping down. Coy Privette surprised commissioners Monday night when just 10 minutes into the meeting he said he would resign once his successor was appointed.

In an interview just outside the meeting room, he told WCNC that he was finally resigning because the retirement community where he and his wife had planned for years to move just had a unit open.

He said the timing of the announcement had nothing to do with his pleading guilty in August to six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution. His announcement followed weeks of calls from voters and even fellow Republican commissioners asking him to give up his seat.

It also came after a protest outside the county building just before Monday’s meeting started.

"I think he needs to step down," said Marty Soltis.

Protest Organizer Thierry Wernaers said, "It's about the total hypocrisy of it all."

Privette read from a prepared statement during the meeting, saying, "I believe it's important to publicly disclose my intention to resign. He added that he and his wife are moving to a retirement village in Thomasville, N.C.

We questioned the veracity of his statement. "Are you saying this is more about retirement plans than about prostitution charges?”

“Oh absolutely,” he said. “No doubt about it. The prosecution’s been resolved. We would be moving regardless.”

WCNC

Coy C. Privette

Privette supporter Fred Wally told us he is sorry to see him go.

"I forgive him,” Wally said. “(We) need to look at the bigger picture -- how much good he has done for the community?"

We asked Privette if he feels like he should be forgiven. He responded, “Oh absolutely. If you repent, that’s a basic principle of Christian faith. Who doesn't make some bad decisions?"

Privette said he will not step down until a successor is chosen. He said he wants a conservative Republican like himself. The Cabarrus County Republican Party will appoint someone to replace him. We don't know when that will happen.