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Call him the unknown candidate.

Better yet, don’t call him a candidate at all.

Kirk Perkins, the person who won a seat on the county’s soil and water conservation board in November, hasn’t been sworn in. And Tuesday, the Guilford County Board of Elections revoked his voter registration and nullified his candidacy.

Runner-up Andrew Courts wants the vacant seat on the Guilford County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, which is open for appointment.

The issue began with a suggestion for Perkins to run for office as a way to make friends. David Crawford, the man who prodded Perkins to run, testified against Perkins before the elections board.

Crawford said that in early 2008 he rented a room in his home to Perkins — who only shares a name with Commissioner C.F. “Kirk” Perkins III.

“He had always said that he wanted a way to meet people to do something and get out and meet girls,” Crawford said, “and then I told him, 'Why don’t you just run for office? You get invited to events and to gatherings and rallies and meet people.’ ”

So, Perkins filed for office. Crawford was his treasurer.

But Crawford kicked him out before Election Day for failure to pay rent. Crawford also said Perkins changed the way he spelled his name, maybe even his identity.

“I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of, and I’m not going to get a dime out of this guy,” Crawford said.

After winning, Perkins didn’t show to claim the unpaid post that spends about $100,000 annually for farm conservation projects.

County elections staff couldn’t find him.

Perkins’ last known address was in High Point, but officials haven’t found him there except to serve him papers for a lawsuit filed by Crawford in the fall seeking back rent.

And an error discovered in Perkins’ voting registration caused revocation, and dismissal of Perkins as a valid candidate.
Greensboro and High Point police say that nobody has filed a missing persons report.

Kathryn Lindley, a Republican on the elections board, appeared to want Crawford to take some responsibility for the issue after learning that Perkins may have used a false name.

“Clearly (Crawford) was very much involved in it and encouraged and supported this person to run for office,” she said.

Meanwhile, Courts wants the seat. He campaigned and finished second behind Perkins. “It was rigged by a candidate who went in it with a popular name,” he said.

The county soil and water board has nominated Herb Hendrickson to the open post. Hendrickson had been on the board but finished third in voting behind Perkins and Courts.

The state soil and water commission will review the nomination Monday.

“What I’m planning on doing is going down to Raleigh and saying that I’d like to have the appointment,” Courts said.

Or he’d like another election — something that a judge can order.

“I would like to see a do-over,” he said.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com