Parents target Whatley over sex offender controversy
Scandals, investigations and resignations in Washington are keeping sex crimes in the headlines, including those of Harvey West (left), seen here with North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
Facebook photo
A new coalition of North Carolina parents is taking aim at Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, alleging his past leadership decisions placed children at risk and demanding accountability ahead of the November election.
The group, calling itself Parents Against Whatley, launched this week with more than 60 members spanning 19 counties. Organizers say the coalition includes a mix of party affiliations, with more than one-quarter identifying as unaffiliated voters.
The effort centers on Whatley’s appointment of Harvey West, a man who served six years in prison for sexually abusing three minors, to leadership roles within the North Carolina Republican Party.
West has acknowledged that Whatley was aware of his criminal history at the time of those appointments.
The issue has lingered for more than a month, with Whatley declining to respond to repeated questions from reporters and sidestepping at least one direct inquiry in a public setting.
Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton framed the coalition’s launch as a response from parents concerned about safety and accountability, arguing that Whatley’s decisions reflected a willingness to prioritize political loyalty over the well-being of children.
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“D.C. insider Michael Whatley appointed and elevated a convicted child sex offender to leadership roles, putting North Carolina kids in danger so he could protect his political allies,” Clayton said in a press release. “It’s despicable, and North Carolina parents will hold him accountable at the ballot box in November.”
The coalition’s formation signals an attempt to elevate the controversy beyond internal party dynamics, positioning it as a broader referendum on leadership and judgment as the election approaches.
The coalition launched with 66 members drawn from 19 counties across North Carolina, according to organizers, with more than one-quarter identifying as unaffiliated voters in an apparent effort to frame the issue beyond party lines.
Supporters of the effort are expected to use the issue to draw contrasts with Democratic candidates, including former Gov. Roy Cooper, Whatley’s November opponent.
