Jackson elections chair faces misconduct complaints
Jackson County Board of Elections members (from left) Jay Pavey, Roy Osborn, Bill Thompson, Wes Hanemayer and Betsy Swift listen to public comment during a meeting on Dec. 9, 2025.
Cory Vaillancourt photo
A pair of complaints have been filed against a Jackson County Board of Elections official, alleging he made inappropriate comments inside the Cullowhee polling site during early voting.
Both complaints were filed with the State Board of Elections on Feb. 13, the same day the alleged incident occurred and the second day of in-person early voting.
The first, filed by Catherine Brand-West of Cullowhee, alleges that around 8:45 a.m., Bill Thompson, chair of the Jackson BOE, entered the polling station and said something to the effect of “I like Germany, but I never trusted the Germans. You can tell by something in their eyes … they might do it again.”
Most people who were present felt Thompson was referring “to the events leading up to, and during World War II,” according to the complaint.
Thompson allegedly elaborated, saying “I would not go to Germany now because of the Islamic invasion. They are everywhere.”
Brad-West’s complaint concludes that the comments were disrespectful to both voters and poll workers. Two witnesses were listed on the complaint.
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The second complaint was filed by poll worker Norbert Wagner of Cashiers. Wagner largely recounts the “Islamic invasion” comment but adds that Thompson feels Germany is “way too dangerous and not safe.”
Wagner, a native of Germany, explained that German society “does not have these issues.” Thompson then directed his attention to France, which he said was “a mess.” Wagner found the remarks inappropriate at best and insulting at worst.
“In essence, I think he exposed deep and unfounded disgust against Muslims and their faith as well as any non-European culture,” he said in the complaint. “It is worrisome for me that a person with these worldviews and full of resentment and disrespect is in a position of official service and public decision making.”
Fortunately, Wagner said in the complaint, no voters were nearby at the time, but when Thompson departed, “everyone shook their head.” Wagner’s complaint also includes two other witnesses not included in Brand-West’s complaint.
The complaints will now move to a preliminary hearing with the North Carolina State Board of Elections, scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 25. Thompson may have violated state statutes associated with election-related activity but more plausibly may have created concerns over misconduct, given an election official’s duty to maintain neutrality and public confidence in a lawful, orderly voting environment.
If the complaint contains sufficient prima facie evidence of a violation, breach of duty or misconduct, the board schedules a full hearing and provides notice to the accused official, including the charges and the time and place of the proceeding.
At the hearing, the complainant presents evidence, including affidavits served in advance, while the accused official has the right to respond with rebuttal evidence and testimony.
The board may subpoena witnesses if necessary, and its review is generally limited to the charges filed unless additional evidence warrants further inquiry.
After the hearing, the board issues a decision, which in some cases may be appealed to the NCSBE within a specified timeframe.
Thompson is no stranger to controversy; he was at the center of a December 2025 vote by the Jackson BOE to eliminate Western Carolina University’s Democratic-leaning on-campus early voting site despite data showing strong turnout there. Thompson called it “a waste of taxpayer’s [sic] money” to operate two early voting sites less than five miles apart and opined that Jackson County could save up to $20,000 by closing any one of the county’s five early voting sites.
The decision drew criticism from students and voting advocates who saw it as a targeted reduction in access that would only save about $6,000 — against Jackson County’s $107 million budget.
When the plan moved to the state level, the North Carolina State Board of Elections approved it on party lines, cementing a local decision in which Thompson had played the defining role.
The consequences became clear weeks later, when WCU students were forced to travel off campus to cast ballots, in some cases walking more than a mile to the nearest site.
Thompson became chair of the Republican-majority board due to provisions inserted into a disaster relief bill that contained no actual disaster relief.
In the waning days of the 2024 legislative session, Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly moved to curtail the authority of the incoming Democratic governor by redistributing key appointment powers that had traditionally resided in the executive branch. Among the most consequential changes was who would make appointments to county boards of elections, as well as the state board.
That power was given to the state auditor, one of five Council of State offices won by a Republican in 2024. Accordingly, on June 25, 2025, all 100 county boards, as well as the state board, flipped from Democrat to Republican control.
Thompson did not immediately respond to an interview request from The Smoky Mountain News.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates after the March 25 hearing.
