news-record.com

GREENSBORO — A political consultant who has helped run campaigns for current City Council members and has been asked to work for candidates this year was arrested outside the council meeting Tuesday night.

Bill Burckley, also a former council member, was asked to leave the meeting for being disorderly, said Mike Speedling, director of security for City Hall. Burckley was arrested by police after returning to the building.

Burckley was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and second-degree trespassing, court records show. He was released on a written promise to appear for both charges. His court date is July 16.

Attempts to speak with Burckley on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Earlier in the evening, security guards initially blocked Burckley from entering the city administrative offices to look for a council member, Speedling said.

Later, Burckley waved at council members from the back of the chambers and spoke with other audience members during the debate about the 1979 Klan-Nazi shootings in Greensboro.

“Finally, I made a decision that it was probably best if he would leave,” Speedling said.

Burckley left City Hall at the request of security officials but returned a short while later, Speedling said. After he did not accept multiple requests by officers to leave City Hall, he was arrested, Speedling said.

Burckley has advised, researched and designed campaigns for county Commissioners Billy Yow and Melvin “Skip” Alston and for state Rep. Alma Adams.

He said last week that he was working for six candidates in this year’s City Council elections, including incumbents Trudy Wade, Mary Rakestraw and Zack Matheny; at-large candidate Nancy Vaughan; and mayoral candidate Bill Knight.

“He is very in tune with the political environment,” Wade said Wednesday. “I’ve never seen him be anything but a gentleman before.”

Burckley will be able to attend city meetings as long as he can behave appropriately, Speedling said.

Vaughan declined to comment about the arrest because she was not aware of the details. “Bill has a good strategic mind,” Vaughan said. “I don’t know what went on (Tuesday) night.”

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com