>> THIS A PRODUCTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE.

>> THIS WEEK ON "OFF THE RECORD" SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT GETS FIRED AND THEN GETS PAID.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE MESS.

A PANTHERS CANCEL THEIR FOR NEW TEAM HEADQUARTERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

FORMER CHARLOTTE MAYOR IS IN THE NEWS.

THE ONE THAT WAS AN IN PRISON GETS AN ENDORSEMENT IN RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL THE ONE THAT IS GOVERNOR GETS BEHIND IN THE RACE FOR U.S. SENATE.

PLUS NO MORE MASKS AT THE AIRPORT OR ON THE A BUS.

STONE WALL STREET GETS A NEW NAME AND SOUTH PARK GETS A LITTLE BIT TALLER.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS7.

AND FROM A UR P INTVMENT CHARLOTTE STUDIO AND HISTORIC I'M JEFF SONIER AND WE'RE "OFF THE RECORD."

TALKING ABOUT STORIES YOU'VE TALKING ABOUT A THIS WEEK IF YOU WATCH NEWS, READ NEWS AND LISTEN TO NEWS YOU RECOGNIZE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

STEVE CRUMP FROM WBTV CHRISTINA BOLLING FROM CHARLOTTE LEDGE LENL EARNED.

AND WILL WRIGHT FROM CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.

THANKS FOR JOINING U YOU CAN JOIN CONVERSATION AT HOME EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO "OFF THE RECORD" AT WTVI.ORG.

WE'VE GOT TO START CMS REALLY THE ONE STORY THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK.

CAME AS KIND OF A SURPRISE, TIMING I SUPPOSE, BUT, ULTIMATE RESULT OF SCHOOL BOARD DECIDING TO DUMP SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ERNEST WINSTON.

NOT AN ENTIRELY A SURPRISE GIVEN ALL PROBLEMS CMS HAS HAD THIS YEAR AND SINCE WINSTON BEGAN.

CRISTINA, YOUR PAPER AND YOU ALL KIND OF DID A PRETTY EXTENSIVE LOOK FIRE AND WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAD TO SAY.

BRING US UP TO DATE ON THIS WHOLE EPISODE THAT I GUESS ALL CAME DOWN AS OF PRETTY MUCH A SURPRISE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> SURE.

SO THE RUMBLINGS REALLY STARTED ON MONDAY.

ON TUESDAY A NOON THE SCHOOL BOARD HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING.

IT VERY VOTED 7-SH-2 TO END ERNEST WINSTON'S CONTRACT IMMEDIATELY.

IT IS TERMED I THINK IT CALLED A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE.

AND THAT HIS CONTRACT WAS BUILT IN HE WOULD RECEIVE TWO YEARS SEVERANCE.

HE WILL PAID OUT $577,000 OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AS A PART OF HIS CONTRACT.

THEY REPLACED HIM WITH HUGH IS A LONG TIME CPMS ADMINISTRATOR.

HE HAD RETIRED AND NOW COMING BACK TO ACT INTERIM WHILE THEY SEARCH FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

AND SO, YEAH, I MEAN IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A VERY ROCKY YEAR FOR CMS.

OBVIOUSLY AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LATELY THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN GOING WELL.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, CONTROVERSIES AND A TROUBLE AT THE DISTRICT PLUMMETING TEST SCORES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC CLOSURES, THIS HAS BEEN QUESTIONS OVER HOW DISTRICT HANDLED SOME SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONSES SECURITY VIOLENCE A SCHOOLS OVER DISTRICT HANDLING THIS HOW EARNEST WINSTON HAS BEEN SORT OF LEADING THE DISTRICT THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

AND SO IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED.

SHORTLY AFTER THE VOTE ON TUESDAY, THE SCHOOL BOARD RELEASED A COUPLE OF INTERESTING DOCUMENTS.

ONE WAS ONE WINSTON'S PERFORMANCE REVIEWS AND ALSO AN INVESTIGATION THAT THEY HAD HIRED AN ASHEVILLE LAW FIRM TO CONDUCT INTO WINSTON'S PERFORMANCE WHICH SHOWED NOTHING NEFARIOUS IN TERMS OF TYPES OF THINGS THINGS YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN SUPERINTENDENTS IMMEDIATELY FIRED.

BUT IT WAS JUST SORT OF SHOWING A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN HOW HE HAD BEEN SORT OF SHEPARDING THE DISTRICT THROUGH ALL OF THESE ISSUES, FAILURE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE QUICK DECISIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

THAT RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS, ALMOST SEEMED LIKE SCHOOL BOARD EFFORT TO JUSTIFY WHAT IT WAS DOING IT WAS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO THAT THEY WERE EXTENDING HIS CONTRACT GIVING HIM A RAISE.

I MEAN THINGS DETERIORATED REALLY QUICKLY FOR WITHIN TON WITH'IN STONE AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH BOARD >> YEAH THEY A CREATED THAT CONTRACT WITH TWO-YEAR SEVERANCE IN DECEMBER, 2021.

THAT WASN'T REALLY LONG AGO.

I THINK FROM READING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE RELEASED YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BOARD, WHEN THEY HIRED HIM KNEW THAT HE HAD EXCELLENT KIND OF SOFT SKILLS IN TERMS OF RAPPORT.

HE HAD BEEN WITH DISTRICT FOR LIKE OVER 15 YEARS.

AND HE HAD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND IF YOU KNOW EARNEST WINSTON I WORKED WITH HIM AT THE OBSERVER FOR YEARS, YOU WON'T MEET NICER GUY.

HE'S VERY, LIKE HIS NAME SAYS EARNEST.

THEY WERE HOPING THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS TO MAKE QUICK CALLS AND TOUGH DECISIONS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE READING THROUGH THOSE THAT MAYBE HE DID NOT QUITE MEASURE UP TO THAT AS THEY WERE HOPING.

>> STEVE, YOU KNOW EARNEST WINSTON A LONG TIME TOO EVEN BEFORE HE CAME TO CHARLOTTE.

THOUGHTS ON A GUY THAT I GUESS AT ALTHOUGH OF FOLKS FEEL LIKE WAS IN OVER HIS HEAD A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS PARTICULAR JOB NOT HAVING ANY REAL EXPERIENCE AS A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR BEYOND THOSE TEN OR 15 YEARS AS HE HAS TRANSITIONED FROM BEING A REPORTER TO SCHOOL TEACHER AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR?

>> YOU KNOW FROM VERY BEGINNING I THINK THE JURY WAS OUT AND THERE HAD TO BE SOME QUESTIONS FROM STANDPOINT OF WHERE JEFF, HE WOULD TAKE PHONE CALLS FROM FOLKS AROUND THIS IRT HAVAL SET HERE IN TERMS OF HEY WE NEED NAME OF THIS TEACHER OR SCHOOL TEAM AND OVER WHEN AND KIND OF WORKED PUBLIC RELATIONS CAPACITY.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK TOTAL DYNAMIC OF WITH WHAT UNFOLDED THIS WEEK IN SOME REGARDS LOOKED LIKE KIND OF A PUBLIC LYNCHING FROM STANDPOINT WHERE EVER NEWS ORGANIZATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA EVEN INASMUCH THEIR NOON TIME NEWS CASTS WERE COVERING A FIRING EARNEST WINSTON.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU KNOW HE WAS FROM GET GO.

OTHER THING THAT I FIND INTERESTING AND CRISTINA BRINGS UP THIS POINT IS FACT EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW I GUESS EBB AND FLOWS RESOLVING DOORS SECHL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN LAST 12 YEARS FACT MATTER I CANNOT THINK OF TIME WE BASICALLY ENDED UP WITH A WRITTEN REPORT DESCRIBING PERFORMANCE OF A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL AS IT RELATED TO WHAT THEY DID ON THE JOB?

YOU KNOW YOU GO BACK TO A JEFF AND I KNOW YOU AND I CAN GO BACK OVER 30 YEARS WHEN WE THINK DID DR. J ROBINSON.

YOU END UP WITH, A JOHN MURPHY, AND YOU HAD, PETE PETE GORMAN AND JIM TINSLY THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING.

I THINK WHOEVER STEPS IN THIS NEXT TIME BECAUSE CHARLOTTE IS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW JOBS, LIKE WALKING THROUGH A MINE FIELD WHEN THEY HERD CANDIDATES IN HERE ALMOST LIKE A CASTING CALL OR CATTLE CALL IN TERMS OF CANDIDATES, AND WHERE THE PERSONALITIES OF THE BOARD ACTUALLY CHANGES.

NOW KEEP IN MIND, YOU KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENTS SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

SO WHOEVER THEY DECIDE TO BRING IN OR WHOEVER DECIDES HE OR SHE WANTS THE JOB HAS TO FIGURE OUT, ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A WAITRESS A WAFFLE HOUSE LAST CALL SAYING HEY WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT?

WHAT'S MENU?

WHAT IS IT WE NEED TO DELIVER FROM STANDPOINT IS IT TEST SCORES?

IS IT SCHOOL SECURITY?

HOW DO WE HANDLE OVERCROWDING?

IT SO WHOEVER COMES IN FOLLOWING THIS PARTICULAR EXERCISE BY THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY TALL ORDER TO FILL.

CRISTINA, COMING BACK, ONCE BEFORE, HE WAS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT NOW HE WILL SERVE THIS THAT ROLE AGAIN.

THAT'S GOOD THING I SUPPOSE AS FAR AS STABILITY IS CONCERNED.

BUT A BAD THING IN TERMS OF THE FACT I GUESS THAT FOR ANOTHER YEAR WE'RE KIND INFORM A HOLDING PATTERN, A PATTERN WHERE WE'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT DYNAMIC CHANGE OR HOW TO TURN THINGS AROUND WHEN IT COMES TO TEST SCORES OR SAFETY OR ALL OF OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN DISTRICT FOR LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF A TWO SIDED SWORD A GUESS YOU WANT THAT THE STABILITY, YOU WANT THAT FAMILIAR FACE THAT CAN MAYBE SETTLE THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BY SAME TOKEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALMOST EVERYBODY AGREES THIS DISTRICT NEEDS CHANGE IN A REAL FASHION, NOT JUST INCREMENTAL CHANGE BUT MAJOR CHANGE TO TURN THESE PROBLEMS AROUND.

>> YEAH SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR, THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

HUGH HAD HOPING GOING TO KIND OF STEADY THE SHIP RIGHT NOW.

EARNEST WINSTON WAS A DRASTIC CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT CLAYTON WILCOX WHO, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE AFTER HE LEFT THERE WERE A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS THAT HE WAS, YOU KNOW, NOT NICE TO STAFF AND YOU KNOW, COULD FIRE BRAND.

SO EARNEST WINSTON WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW PENDULUM SWING FROM THAT.

SIX OUT NINE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SEATS ARE UP FOR REELECTION, SOME CASES, MEMBERS ARE NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

IT GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO THEY CHOOSE.

AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT REALLY COULD SERVING AT THE PLEASURE OF A NEW BOARD.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE IS SPECULATION THAT'S WHY IT WAS DONE NOW IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT, VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO FORGET BY NOVEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK I SUPPOSE.

AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET WHAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET THIS TRACK RECORD OF HIRE ONE AND FIRE ONE HIRE ONE AND FIRE ONE.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S -- DYSFUNCTION I GUESS WORD THAT KIND OF FITS BEST FOR LOT OF FOLKS LOOKING AT THIS SCHOOL BOARD FROM THE OUTSIDE.

AND FROM PARENTS LOOKING AT IT FROM INSIDE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE NEXT ELECTION GOES AND HOW THOSE SITTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THOSE RUNNING FOR REELECTION WILL EXPLAIN THEMSELVES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

BUT AN INTERESTING WEEK APPEAR GREAT WEEK FOR ANYBODY INVOLVED.

CERTAINLY KIND OF AN EMBARRASSING WEEK I SUPPOSE FOR SCHOOL BOARD THAT'S IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT PRIDES IT ELF IS AS BEING WORLD CLASS BUT HASN'T LOOKED VERY WORLD CLASSY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND CERTAINLY NOT AMONG SOME POPULATIONS THAT THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM SERVES.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER INTERESTING WEEK DOWN BELOW THE STATE LINE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE PANTHERS AND ROCK HILL IS THIS A DIVORCE?

IS THIS A PAUSE IN THE RELATIONSHIP?

I MEAN, THE PANTHERS SOUNDED LIKE THIS WEEK THEY ED PRETTY MUCH AGREED TIE IT OH CUT TIES WITH ROCK HILL AND THEIR PLANS FOR THAT BIG FOOTBALL MECCA DOWN IN ROCK HILL, CAN YOU BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHERE THAT AND MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY WHERE IS GOING IN IF ANYWHERE?

>> YEAH.

JEFF.

THIS IS ISN'T QUITE SAGA OVER LAST SIX PLUS WEEKS OR SO.

YEAH, SO THIS STATEMENT THIS WEEK OF FROM THE PANTHER'S SIDE SAYING THEY PLAN TO MOVE TO FORMALLY END THEIR AGREEMENTS WITH CITY FOR THIS PROJECT, THAT WAS THEIR FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT SINCE THEY FIRST ANNOUNCED THEY WERE PAUSING THE PROJECT ON MARCH 7TH.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MOVES MADE A LOT OF SPECULATION, NOW SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT NUMEROUS LEVELS TAKING PUBLIC SHOTS AND TEAM SINCE THEN.

SO JUST FROM TALK TO PEOPLE AROUND THE SITUATION, IT FEELS LIKE THE MOOD OF THIS THING CHANGES BY THE DAY IF NOT BY THE HOUR.

THERE HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS, THERE HAS BEEN SOME OPTIMISM THEY FIGURED OUT.

THE LAST TIME I WAS ON THIS SHOW, I SAID IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS PROJECT MIGHT BE TOO BIG TO FAIL FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED WHETHER THAT BE PEOPLE LOCALLY THIS WAS A BUYING ONE FOR ROCK HILL AND FOR ARE SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND PANTHER SAID THEY INVESTED $170 MILLION INTO THIS FACILITY SO FAR AND THIS IS A FACILITY THAT THEY NEED.

BUT THE FACT THAT HAS GOTTEN TO THIS POINT, I THINK IS PRETTY GRIM.

YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY A FEW WEEKS AGO ON MARCH 21ST COUNTY MADE ALTERNATIVE FINANCING OFFER FOR PROJECT CITY COULD ENDORSE A WEEK LATER.

SEEMS MAYBE THEN THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH.

BUT THEN I SPOKE WITH YORK COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON CHRISTY COX THAT A SAYS PANTHERS NEVER RESPONDED TO THAT ALTERNATIVE OFFER AFTER IT WAS MADE.

SO I WISH I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL TO SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.

BUT FACT IT GOT TO THE THIS POINT IS GRIM.

BUT IN THERE STATEMENT THEY DID LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE TALKS, BUT DOES IT THAT MEAN MORE NEGOTIATIONS TO BRING THIS THING BACK TO LIFE?

OR DOES THAT MEAN TALKS TO SEVER TIES IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL >> MAYBE 170 MILLION BACK.

I SUPPOSE $170 MILLION MIGHT BE WHAT I FINDS IN HIS SOFA.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TOO BIG TO FAIL AND DEPENDS ON HOW BIG YOU ARE TO BEGIN WITH BEING RICHEST OWNER IN NFL I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYONE CAN DROP 170 MILLION COMFORTABLY.

BUT HE MIGHT BE THE GUY.

YEAH DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE THERE'S A -- IF WHAT SOUNDS LIKE IT TOUGH FOR PANTHERS IF THERE IS A WAY TO KEEP THIS THING ALIVE TO KEEP IT FROM FAILING IT UP TO THE PANTHERS TO ACCEPT OR AT LEAST NEGOTIATE WITH ROCK HILL ON THIS NEW FUNDING AGREEMENT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.

THE TEAM BASED ON THAT STATEMENT, DOES IT IN >> SO INSTEAD OF THIS LIES WITH PANTHER I SAY THIS LIES WITH ONE MAN DAVID TENNER.

BECAUSE YOU SPOKE WITH YORK COUNTY COUNCIL PERSON ABOUT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS THAT LED TO ALTERNATIVE FINANCING OFFER HE SAID THAT THAT OFFER WAS A RESULT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY, THE CITY AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TEAM WHICH HE SAID AT THE TIME AGREED TO THE OFFER IN PRINCIPLE.

NOW AGAIN, THE TEAM HAS NEVER COMMENTED PUBLICLY ON THIS.

BUT IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE WAY THIS IS HEADED IT LIES IN THE BALL IS IN DAVID TENNER'S COURT.

WHAT AWANTS TO HAPPEN IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HE HOLDS THE MOST POWER HERE.

AND I UNG MAYBE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ATHINKS ON THIS.

MAYBE ITS JUST HIM.

BUT YEAH WE'LL SEE.

I WOULD SAY, YEAH, IT'S REALLY, I THINK JUST IN HIS HANDS MORE SO THAN MAYBE TEAM AN ORGANIZATION A WHOLE.

LET'S JUST CALL HIM.

HE SEEMS LIKE AN OKAY GUY.

I YOU HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

BUT UNI, IF WE'RE IN CHARLOTTE LOOKING YOU KNOW DOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND GO THE TO MAKE YOU WONDER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN IT TIME TO NEGOTIATE BE WITH DAVID TENNER AND PANTHERS FOR ARE IN FOOTBALL STADIUM TO REPLACE BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM.

ANY THOUGHTS FROM ANYBODY ON WHERE YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CITY SEES AS IT AS IT LOOKS DOWN ROCK HILL AND SEES HOW THIS HAS PRO POGGED TO IN THIS CASE NOT PROGRESSED.

>> I THINK WHAT IS SURPRISING IS THE FACT WHILE ALL NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING ON ENDED UP PUTTING TEAM UP FOR SALE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THIS KIND OF LOVEFEST OF MCMASTER IN COLUMBIA.

AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THE STATE LAWMAKERS DOWN IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HASN'T FOUND THE WAY OF MOVING THIS THING FORWARD FROM STANDPOINT OF PROVIDING PERHAPS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BAIL OUT.

THE OTHER THING KIND OF INTERESTING IN YOU KNOW BRING UP WHOLE THING YORK COUNTY COUNCIL SITUATION, YOU KNOW IF THIS THING GOES AWAY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NOT ONLY THIS PARTICULAR STRUCTURE STILL SITTING THERE THEN AGAIN THOSE OF US THAT REMEMBER HERITAGE GRAND HOTEL AND HOW THAT IS JUST LANGUISHED FOR DECADES.

THIS ONE OF THOSE THINGS I'M QUITE SURE THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD END OF THE DISCUSSION AS IT RELATES TO YORK COUNTY PARTICIPATING IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT NOT JUST SHELL BUT CAROLINA PANTHERS.

WE TALKED 170 MILLIONS PANTHER SPENT, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS ALSO SPENT CONSIDERABLE MONEY ON NEW EXIT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAD TO THAT FOOTBALL COMPLEX.

BUT YOU KNOW THAT'S MONEY SPENT AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THAT PROJECT WILL GO ON WITH OR WITHOUT THE PANTHERS.

OTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THIS SITUATION, FOLKS?

>> I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS >> GO AHOO, WILL >> GO AHEAD.

>> WHERE YOU KNOW THE LOCAL OFFICIALS HERE GO AND WHAT THEY IF THEY WEIGH IN AT ALL.

I'VE ASKED AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND YOU KNOW, SEEMS LIKE CONVERSATIONS HAVEN'T REALLY STARTED WITH CHARLOTTE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

AND I ASKED GOVERNOR YESTERDAY WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT YOU KNOW THE PANTHERS AND HE ALSO NOT NONCOMMITTAL.

HE SAID WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A HEADQUARTERS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT THAT, YOU KNOW HIS, HIS STANCE WAS BASICALLY LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES.

I'M OKAY UR OUTS TO SEE IF THERE ARE MORE ACTIVE EFFORTS LOCALLY OR IN STATE >> GOOD POINT PIPE KNOW THERE WAS SOME DISAPPOINTMENT THAT NORTH CAROLINA REALLY DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID OR BE A PLAYER IN THE DECISION TO GO TO ROCK HILL.

I GUESS THIS DOES OPEN THE DOOR, YOU KNOW ONE STATE'S FAILURE MIGHT BE ANOTHER STATE'S OPPORTUNITY IT IS INTERESTING GOVERNOR IS AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON SOUTH OF STATE LINE AND MIGHT VIEW THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AGAIN, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, PANTHERS CONTROL A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN UPTOWN IN THE FUTURE.

AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW WHEREVER THEY DECIDE TO PUT THAT PRACTICE FACILITY WILL BE MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.

SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW HARD TO SAY, ONE LAST COMMENT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GUESS ON TIMETABLE FOR SOMETHING BEING, YOU KNOW, FOR KNOWING WHETHER THIS IS DEAD, ALIVE OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

ANY THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME WHEN THIS WAS FIRSTS WE WOULDN'T HEAR PANTHERS AGAIN UNTIL SIX WEEKS LATER I WOULD HAVE SAID YOU'RE CRAZY.

SO MAYBE IT IS A MATTER OF WEEKS.

I WOULD SURPRISED IF IT MATTER OF DAYS I WILL GO BACK TO THIS MIGHT JUST LIE IN THE WISHES OF ONE MAN DAVID TENNER.

MAYBE ONE DAY HE WILL DECIDE, ALL RIGHT.

I'M READY TO GET SOMETHING DONE AND MOVE THIS FORWARD, OR ALL RIGHT I'M READY TO KILL THIS THING.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMFORTABLE PROJECTING TIMELINE WHAT I DREW UP IN HEAD WHEN THIS FIRST START WOUND UP BEING SO OFF >> THING AND AN IF HE WANTS TO CALL US WE WOULD TO TAKE CALL TALK TO MR. TENNER I'M SURE WOULD LOVE TO >> THE ONE THE POINT WHO ELS ON THE HOOK BECAUSE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS, LOT OF BUILDERS, LOT OF THE INDEPENDENT FOLKS HAD YOU KNOW DEALS WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL AS AND THEN THE WHOLE CONVERSATION OH THIS WILL BRINK 150 TO 20 OH JOBS DOWN TO YORK COUNTY.

YOU KNOW THE QUESTION IN SOME REGARDS EVEN THOUGH WE SEE ROCK HILL YORK COUNTY AND TENNER BEING MAIN PLAYERS HERE SOME PLAYERS THAT COULD LEFT OUT IN COLD AS A RESULT OF THIS DILLYDALLYING IN THE DECISION?

>> IT IS A LOT OF FOLKS AREN'T WORKING RIGHT NOW THAT'S NO LAUGHING MATTER FOR ANYBODY BED.

THAT'S A SHAME.

BUT AGAIN THIS PARTICULAR WEEKEND I'M SURE WE WILL TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN ONCE WE FINALLY DO HEAR FROM MR. TENNER AND HIS TEAM.

LET'S TALK POLITICS FOR FEW MINUTES.

WILL, YOU WENT ON LAST WEEK A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED OVER PAST TWO WEEKS.

LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT CITY COUNCIL AND A BLACK CAULK CAUCUS MAKING ENDORSING FOR ARE CITY COUNCIL RACE.

BIG XRIES I GUESS PATRICK CANNON FORMER MAYOR, FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FORM INMATE THE IN PRISON GET AN ENDORSEMENT FROM BLACK LOCAL CAUCUS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT MIGHT HAVE ON UP COMING CITY COUNCIL RACES IN NOVEMBER?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THEIR ENDORSEMENT IS REGARDED A VERY VALUABLE FOR CANDIDATES.

AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED.

BUT I WAS THERE DURING THE FORUM FOR BLACK POLITICAL CAUCUS WHEN EVER AT LARGE MEMBERS WERE GIVING THEIR ADDRESSES.

AND HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS, YOU KNOW HIS ACCEPTING OF BRIBES WHILE IN OFFICE.

AND YOU KNOW, APOLOGIZED AND BASICALLY JUST SAID THAT YOU KNOW GOD GIVES SECOND CHANCES, AND THAT GOT A BIG APPLAUSE.

SO EVEN THAT DAY, IT SEEMED THAT ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE ENDORSEMENT JUST BECAUSE OF REACTION OF THE CROWD I THINK.

SO YEAH, I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

AND MAYFIELD ALSO GETTING THE ENDORSEMENT FOR FORMER CITY COUNCIL PERSON WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROVERSY IN HER PATH OBVIOUSLY NOT A MUCH.

BUT SOME SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT WERE YOU KNOW GOT SOME HEADLINES INVOLVING, YOU KNOW SXIR TO RECALL VIEWS ABOUT 9/11, AND JAMES MITCHELL AS WELL GETTING ENDORSEMENT.

SO OLD FACES COMING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL POSSIBLY OR AT LEAST ON THE BALLOT WITH THE ENDORSEMENT IN HAND.

>> I GUESS WE FIND OUT JUST HOW POWERFUL BLACK LOCAL CAUCUS ENDORSEMENT IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WITH PATRICK CANNON.

I I DON'T KNOW IF VOTERS ARE A FOR GIVING MAYBE THAT AUDIENCE WAS WHEN HE GOTTEN DOORSMENT >> HEARINGS WHAT I WILL SAY IN SOME REGARD YOU CAN TAKE IT HERE IN CHARLOTTE AS WELL, EVEN WITH A MAJOR CITY AS RELATES TO AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT HAVE FOUND THEM SELVES ON WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW YOU CAN LOOK WASHINGTON D.C. MEN MARIAN BERRY THE FORMER MAYOR OF D.C. GETS CAUGHT STING WHERE HE'S SMOKING CRACK ON CAMERA WITH SOMEBODY.

AND YOU KNOW KIND OF ARE HAD THIS FALL FROM GRACE WHEN HE COMES BACK, YOU KNOW THE WASHINGTON D.C. IS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER THERE.

AND EVEN LOCALLY, THERE ARE THOSE THAT REMEMBER, INVOLVED BOB WALTON HAD HIS SITUATION HERE.

AND YOU KNOW, I GETS ARRESTED AND SPENDS A LITTLE TIME IN JAIL FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.

AND HE GETS REELECTED AS WELL.

SO YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF SECOND CHANCES, AND SOME REGARDS WE FIND THAT YOU KNOW, LOCALLY AS WELL SOME OF THE RACES WE'VE SEEN IN BIG CITIES IN COUNTRY THAT YOU KNOW AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS IN MANY REGARDS CAN IN SOME WAYS BE FOR GIVING.

WELCOME BACKED BACK WHEN HE RAN INTO HIS PROBLEMS IN 80s.

WILL CITY COUNCIL WELCOME BACK PATRICK CANNON IF ELECTED AN AT LARGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WILL IS THIS >> I WOULD IMAGINE THEY WOULD.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

BUT I DON'T SEE THEM, YOU KNOW MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT FOR HIM ONCE HE'S ON COUNCIL.

I THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE RELATIVELY FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO NEXT.

I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD SPEND TIME TRYING TO UNDERCUT HIM OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

BUT I GUESS WE'LL SEE.

>> YES, I GUESS WE WILL SO SPEAK FORMER MAYORS PAT FINDS HIMSELF IN SECOND PLACE IN POLLS AND U.S. SENATE GOP PRIMARY RACE.

FIRST IN FUNDRAISING.

THE SECOND PLACE IN THE POLLS IS KIND OF SURPRISING YOU KNOW FOR A FORMER GOVERNOR FOR GUY WHO HAS BEEN ON STATE-WIDE TICKETS BEFORE.

SHOULD WE BE SURPRISED THAT AT THIS AT THIS LATE STAGE IN GOP PRIMARY RACE FOR U.S. SENATE?

>> WELL LEADING IN FUNDRAISING THE TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE HAS THE BACK HAND GROWTH CONSERVATIVE PAC OUT WASHINGTON SPENDING YOU KNOW SO FAR SPENT MORE $8 MILLION AND WANTS TO SPEND $14 MILLION ON PRIMARY.

SO UNIA, I THINK THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS HOW YOU PUT YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN LEARN YOUR NAME.

IF TED DID NOT HAVE KIND NAME RECOGNITION MCCRORY HAD GOING INTO THIS RACE.

NOW AMONG PRIMARY VOTERS, YOU KNOW HE MIGHT WITH ALL OF THAT FUNDING.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG OF A SURPRISE IT IS, YOU KNOW A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO MONEY AND HOW MUCH MCCRORY CAN RESPOND HOW MUCH HE CAN RAISE IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THOSE ADS FROM TED AND FROM CLUB FOR GROWTH.

>> YES.

WE SAW HIS MOST RECENT AD CUT THE CRAP WHERE HE'S BASICALLY SAYING THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DISTORT MY LEGACY BY PAINTING ME AS A RHINO REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY.

SO HE IS TRYING TO MAKE SH ARE VOTERS KNOW HE DEFINES HIMSELF CONSERVATIVE PUTTING HIS RECORD OUT THERE SAYING BASICALLY LIKE YOU REMEMBER, YOU REMEMBER ME IN MY TERM AS GOVERNOR AND DON'T LET THEM DISTORT YOUR MEMORY >> THOSE OF THAT REMEMBER PAT AS MAYOR PROBABLY FIGURE HE WROTE THAT LINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING PAT WOULD SAY.

>> THE OTHER THING WITH BUD IS HE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR DEBATE THE OTHER NIGHT.

SO THE QUESTION THEN A LOT OF FOLKS MAY HAVE WHERE DOES HE REALLY STAND A RELATES TO SOME ISSUES.

ESPECIALLY IN THAT KIND FORUM WITH OTHER CANDIDATES.

>> YEAH.

AND BY WAY LET'S QUICKLY MENTION JERRY BEESLY IS EASILY AHEAD IN DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF RACE FOR U.S. SENATE AND APPEARS TO BE ON HER WAY TO THAT NOMINATION.

BUT AGAIN WE GOT ABOUT A MONTH TO GO FOR REPUBLICANS TO WORK THIS OUT OR FIGHT THIS OUT I SUPPOSE.

IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING NOVEMBER NO NO MATTER WHO IS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THAT RACE.

LET'S WRAP UP QUICKLY WITH THE NAME CHANGE ON STONE WALL STREET THAT TURNED INTO BROOKLYN VILLAGE AVENUE.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT A CHANGE THAT MAKES SENSE IN LOT OF WAYS, RIGHT?

>> I THINK IT DOES FROM STANDPOINT BROOKLYN WAS ONE THRIVING AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN CHARLOTTE THAT ENDED UP HAVING ITS FORTUNE CHANGE BY URBAN RENEWAL.

IN SOME REGARDS YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS LAND SWAP THAT HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS AND EVEN INASMUCH THE PARK OVERON THIRD STREET WHERE THEY HAVE AT MARTIN LUTHER KING STATUE WHAT USED TO BE A CMS.

AND YOU KNOW THE FOR HOMES I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LONG TIME ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT COME FROM YOU KNOW THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CAN FINDED A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THAT NAME CONSIDERING WHAT REPRESENTED IN THIS COMMUNITY GOING BACK IN INTO THE FIRST HALF OF THIS 20 CENTURY THAT.

>> NAME CHANGE WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 30TH AGAIN I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS EMBRACE THAT NAME AND THAT CHANGE IN PARTICULAR.

HEY, WE'RE OUT TIME FOLKS BUT APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME FOR JOINING US ON PANEL AND AT HOME YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN US CONTACT US ONLINE AT "OFF THE RECORD."

A THANK YOU FOR JOINING THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON "OFF THE RECORD."