North Carolina's Previous Rockingham Supervisor Initiates Lawsuit Against adversaries Over Harsh Casino Criticisms
Long-standing Rockingham administrator Craig Travis aimed to reclaim his spot on the county commission board this year, but ended up losing during the March Republican primary. Now, more than three months afterward, Travis is accusing his casino-supporting rivals of ruining his reputation during the election.
Travis vacated his position on the Rockingham Board of County Commissioners in December 2022, following three consecutive four-year terms. In 2023, he decided to return to local politics after a scandal enveloped the Rockingham administration, concerning secret agreements to designate the region as a residential area for casino resorts.
Travis alleges in a legal claim filed in the state that he was maliciously targeted by casino backers and secret financial interests, beyond the scope of First Amendment protections.
His complaint points to retaliation on the part of his opponents for exposing under-the-table negotiations between Commissioner Kevin Berger and two other commissioners with a Maryland-based casino operator to establish a Vegas-style resort in the rural area.
Casino Scandal
Berger's father, North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), attempted to legalize casinos in Rockingham, Anson, and Nash counties in 2023 by incorporating a provision into the state's budget bill. It was later disclosed that Phil Berger had negotiated an agreement with The Cordish Companies, operators of Live!-branded casinos in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and soon Louisiana, for the company to develop casinos in all three North Carolina counties.
Travis and others opposed to the casino push gathered evidence such as the Rockingham Commissioners touring Cordish’s Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland near the BWI airport. State campaign finance records also indicated that Cordish funneled tens of thousands of dollars into the Bergers’—as well as other pro-gaming legislators’—2024 state and county campaigns.
Rockingham remains politically conservative. The March 2024 Republican commissioners' primary serves as an effective general election, as the five-member board has traditionally been controlled by Republicans.
The March 5 primary required county Republicans to choose three candidates. After a recount, Travis finished fourth, barely behind Commissioner Kevin Berger. Commissioner Mark Richardson finished second to keep his seat, and newcomer Jeff Kallahm emerged victorious.
Commissioner Don Powell ended up sixth and will officially vacate his position after the November 2024 general election, once replacements are sworn in the following month. County Board Chair Charlie Hall, III, and Commissioner Houston Barrow were not up for re-election.
Smear Tactics
Travis’ lawsuit demands damages amounting to $100K and asserts that Berger and casino lobbyists conspired to sully Travis's campaign. His lawyers claim that the false attack ads portrayed Travis as performing destructive acts like deflating his opponents’ tires and stealing their campaign signs.
The false statements made about Mr. Travis in the false ads, social media posts, emails, and other communications surpass ordinary political bickering and slander, protected by the First Amendment, the lawsuit alleges. "These false statements were made with actual malice and deliberately intended to harm Mr. Travis’ reputation in Rockingham County by degrading Mr. Travis in the eyes of potential voters in the 2024 Board of Commissioners election and discouraging others from supporting his campaign," the lawsuit contends. Besides Kevin Berger, Travis’ lawsuit names Commissioners Richardson and Powell as defendants.
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