Sanford Republican who sued over campaign mailers loses to unaffiliated candidate
A Republican candidate for the state House lost to an unaffiliated opponent after all voting precincts in District 51 had reported unofficial results Tuesday. Sanford Republican Charles Taylor recently filed a defamation lawsuit over campaign mailers that claimed he owns and operates an illegal gambling business. Taylor narrowly lost to April Montgomery, an unaffiliated candidate. District 51 includes all of Lee County and part of Moore County. Montgomery campaigned on investing in public education and supporting small businesses. Taylor, who serves as a Sanford City Council member, was trying to replace Rep. John Sauls, who did not seek reelection. Sauls has served seven terms over two tenures. The Sandhills Citizens Alliance, a political action committee, created and distributed a mailer accusing Taylor of owning and operating a gambling business and “breaking the law himself,” The News & Observer previously reported. The Assembly and local Sanford newspaper The Rant reported that Taylor owned a property with a gambling operation and did not disclose the information on state forms. Taylor has refuted the claims. He said he owns the property and doesn’t run the business, and “if there’s ever an issue with the tenant, I’ll deal with it based on the facts
