Town of Mooresville Files Appeal to Stop Publication of the Mayor's Video

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – The Town of Mooresville is appealing the April 15, 2026, court order regarding Gray Local Media, Inc. v. Town of Mooresville, which sought the public release of Town Hall surveillance video. Following the advice of legal counsel, the appeal is based on strong concerns about the broad scope of the decision and future implications for the safety and security of municipal buildings.

In the current order, all surveillance videos captured in any part of public buildings statewide could be considered public records. This includes video of any person in or around any public building including a police department, fire department, or courthouse. The expansive breadth of this order poses safety and security risks for public service workers and the community at large.

On April 6, 2026, the Town Board publicly discussed and took action regarding past individual actions of Mayor Chris Carney by passing a vote of no confidence and requested that the Mayor resign. “We want to be clear that the decision to appeal the court order is not about concealing anything or protecting Mayor Carney’s interests in this ruling,” stated the Board of Commissioners. “The Board stands behind its earlier decision in not condoning the specific behavior of the Mayor that evening. The decision to appeal the court order is solely focused on protecting the safety and well-being of our Town staff, and ultimately anyone who needs the services provided in public buildings across our community and our state.”