Winston-Salem rebuffs eminent domain limits
By Brian Irving, LPNC Press Secretary
WINSTON-SALEM (Aug. 15) - The Libertarian candidate for Winston Salem City Council was rebuffed when he asked the council to pass a resolution condemning the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo vs. New London.
In that case, the court ruled local governments may seize private property and transfer ownership another, simply by concluding such transfer would benefit the community through increased economic development.
Richard Norman, North Ward candidate, presented a resolution to the council Aug. 15. It asserts that the authority granted local governments by this decision "is not in the best interest of the residents of the City of Winston-Salem or the State of North Carolina" and calls for a amendment to the state constitution to "expressly limit the authority of the State .. and local governments .to exercise the power of condemnation of private property for private development."
In addition to the resolution, Norman asked council members to pledge to limit the city's use of the eminent domain power. Vernon Robinson was the only council member to sign the pledge. The council referred the resolution to the city attorney.
"Kelo v. New London is an extremely unpopular decision among property owners throughout the country and most particularly in Winston-Salem," Norman said.
"This board has the power to take property from individuals for the public good and while that power is broad, it should not extend to the taking for purely economic reasons," he said.
But Lenoir condemns Kelo decision
A day after Winston-Salem's deferred action on a resolution to limit use of eminent domain, another North Carolina city council agreed to such limits. The Lenoir City Council unanimously adopted a resolution similar to the one proposed by Richard Norman. It was introduced by council member T.J. Rohr, a libertarian.
"I think it's my proudest moment as a member of the Lenoir City Council," Rohr said. "Standing up for things and constantly losing 1-6 is nice, but making a stand for what's right and having the other members of the council, from all across the political spectrum, support me is something else entirely."
Rohr's resolution will be sent to the area's state legislators, U.S. representatives and U.S. Senators. It will also be sent to two taxpayer-funded local government lobbies, the National League of Cities and the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
Read the resolution and the pledge
A Resolution Condemning the Supreme Court Opinion in Kelo v. New London and Endorsing Protection of Private Property Rights. (passed by the Lenoir City Council April 17)
A Pledge to Property Owners (proposed to the Winston-Salem city council members April 16)
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