The smoking gun in the hearing over Andre Knight's residency was provided by a former IRS agent turned school teacher who has been watching Knight and his pal, Curmilus Dancy II of Tarboro, for years.

Ken Pledger, 58, of Rocky Mount, e-mailed copies of Knight's deed of trust for his property on Braswell Street, which is in Nash County, to the Edgecombe County Elections Board.

Knight had provided the board some of the documents but, lo and behold, some pages were missing. Pledger provided those missing pages.

The loan application states, “a borrower shall occupy, establish and use the property as borrower’s principle residence at least one year ... ."

In answer to a question, Knight replied: “No, I did not (obtain a waiver). I bought the property as investment property for an adult day care center.”

Knight maintained he lived at 1517 Cherry St. in Rocky Mount – in Edgecombe County where he was registered to vote. However, a review of his utility bills did not substantiate his sworn testimony.

That's why board members Betty Lewis and Gladys Shelton found Knight not to be a resident of Edgecombe. Board member Sam Branch said, "I honestly believe 1517 Cherry St. is his domicile.” The vote was 2-1.

Pledger, who was a volunteer in longtime Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage's re-election campaign three years ago, has written letters to the editor, speaking out against Knight.

"I don't think he's got as much support in Ward 1 as some may think," Pledger said. "People have called me and complained because he didn't live there. They felt he wasn't representing them."

Pledger, who got out the Internal Revenue Service after 16 years "because all the guys I worked with were having (heart) bypass surgery," watched the hearings on WHIG-TV.

"It was pretty clear Knight wasn't telling the whole truth about his residence," Pledger said.

It is interesting to note that it was Knight's buddy Dancy of Tarboro that actually irritated Pledger. Pledger and Dancy both participated in a discussion board on the Rocky Mount Telegram Web site.

"Dancy sent me photos of (the Rev.) Roosevelt Higgs' residence," Pledger said. "He was out to discredit Higgs."

Pledger later forwarded the photos to Higgs and warned him about Dancy.

"Dancy, Knight and (Rocky Mount Ward 2 Councilman Reuben) Blackwell distort things," Pledger said. "If you oppose them they use the 'R' word.

"Dancy calls people racist whites and 'safe Negroes' as a way to insult people. They are not interested in working with others."

Whenever Knight does not get what he wants, he hollers "racism."

Pledger thinks Knight follows Dancy's lead. I disagree, but who knows?

Knight refers all calls to his attorney who does not return phone calls.

Dancy and I were supposed to have a sit-down interview a few months ago when he was accusing the school board of something, but he didn't show and then he declined.

"Dancy, Knight and Blackwell do a disservice to Edgecombe County," Pledger said. "I have never seen the racism and black-white problem that those three try to portray to the media."

Most of us haven’t either – and will not tolerate such. Yet it seems to be their claim to fame. The act has gotten old.



W. Terry Smith is editor of The Daily Southerner