Decided.
The editorial below was authored several days before the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ June 24 decision to dismiss the complaint filed against Cumberland County Board of Elections Chair Linda Devore by county employee Joshua Dovi. The Board found no probable cause to advance the complaint. We predicted this because the outcome illustrates a broader and troubling trend: the use of false and unfounded accusations as a means of weaponizing administrative processes to damage reputations and undermine public servants. Such actions erode trust, distract from legitimate governance, and harm the very communities these people, organizations, and institutions are meant to serve.
For decades, Linda Devore has demonstrated consistent, principled service to the residents of Cumberland County. Her record speaks for itself. The same cannot be said of her accuser. Once again, the principle of “doing the right thing for the right reason” proves reliable.
I encourage you to read the editorial below, followed by Devore’s statement after the dismissal. Up & Coming Weekly newspaper remains committed to reporting on issues that matter to Fayetteville and Cumberland County, guided by the voices and experiences of the people who live here. Thank you.
—Bill Bowman
Here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, we have an unfortunate tendency to “eat our own.” By this I mean we have an overabundance of small minded individuals who seem determined to find fault with any person, policy, or procedure they remotely dislike — and then proceed to defame or destroy them.
That’s how I view the situation involving Cumberland County Board of Elections employee Joshua Dovi, who has filed a formal complaint against Board of Elections Chair Linda Devore, accusing her of interfering with board operations, coercing staff and prying into his private family and health matters.
I do not know Mr. Dovi. However, I do know Linda Devore — personally, professionally, and through her long involvement in local business, the Republican Party, and her work as Board of Elections Chair. On the surface, in my opinion, this situation looks like a combination of sour grapes and afternoon soap opera drama. But I’ll let you decide.
Below are Dovi’s accusations against Devore, along with her responses, as reported by Paul Woolverton of CityView on June 22, 2026.
1. Allegation: “Professional Bribe” / Improper Job Offer
Dovi’s Claim:
Dovi alleges that Devore encouraged him to apply for a yet to be created management position and that the offer was intended to dissuade him from reporting her conduct. He calls it an “improper inducement” and a “professional bribe,” arguing the position was created by Devore and offered privately to him, raising concerns about her integrity.
Devore’s Response:
Devore denies the accusation. She states the position was developed by the full board in October — long before any conflict with Dovi — and is still under review by county commissioners as part of the personnel budget. She emphasizes the position was not created for Dovi and would be publicly advertised if funded.
2. Allegation: Distrust of Voting Machines
Dovi’s Claim:
Dovi asserts that Devore had an “unfounded mistrust” of the county’s vote counting machines and repeatedly questioned their reliability and security. He says she ignored his assurances that the machines met all specifications and that her behavior amounted to interference with staff functions.
Devore’s Response:
Devore flatly denies ever questioning the accuracy or reliability of the equipment. She says she frequently speaks about how reliable the tabulators are and considers them “unsurpassed.” She acknowledges discussing potential upgrades to newer DS300 models, but concluded the performance difference was minimal.
3. Allegation: Interfering With Daily Operations
Dovi’s Claim:
Dovi claims Devore became deeply involved in daily office operations beyond her authority, including calling meetings with staff independently and overstepping her role as a board member.
Devore’s Response:
Devore disputes this characterization and states she did not insert herself into daily operations in the way Dovi describes.
4. Allegation: Setting Office Policies Unilaterally
Dovi’s Claim:
Dovi alleges that Devore attempted to set operational policies on her own rather than through formal board votes.
Devore’s Response:
Devore denies acting outside the proper process, stating that the Elections Board sets policies collectively, not individually.
5. Allegation: Pressure Regarding Remote Work Policy
Dovi’s Claim:
Dovi says Devore repeatedly questioned him about why he supported a remote work policy and persisted even after he told her the matter was private. He claims she pressured him during a public board meeting to disclose a sensitive personal and family health matter, effectively compelling him to reveal protected health information — potentially violating privacy rights and HIPAA.
Devore’s Response:
Devore says the remote work issue arose because other employees complained about inconsistent telework practices. She notes that Dovi himself submitted a remote work proposal on April 29, which the board discussed on May 1. She says she has no knowledge of ever pressuring him to disclose personal health information. The board is still considering the policy.
6. Allegation: Pattern of Pressure, Coercion, and Interference
Dovi’s Claim:
Dovi asserts a broader pattern of coercive behavior by Devore, claiming she pressured staff, interfered with operations, and created an environment of intimidation.
Devore’s Response:
Devore denies all allegations of coercion or interference, calling the accusations false and frivolous. She also notes that two previous complaints filed against her were dismissed by the State Board of Elections.
Final Thoughts
This complaint — like the two before it — arrives in a politically charged environment with high stakes: a director on leave, staff vacancies, and a major election cycle underway. Dovi’s allegations are serious, but many hinge on interpretation, motive, or private conversations that cannot be independently verified. Meanwhile, Devore is a known entity in local business and political circles, with a long standing reputation reflected in her categorical and confident responses.
Are Dovi’s claims Fact or Fiction? At this stage, it’s impossible to say. Most remain allegations, not established facts.
By the time you read this, the State Board of Elections may have already determined what is substantiated, what is exaggerated, and what is simply workplace drama elevated into a formal complaint. If so, this article may offer helpful context and insight. This is what community newspapers do. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.
Statement on dismissal of charges from Linda Devore
June 24, 2026
Earlier today, the North Carolina Board of Elections dismissed a complaint filed against me by an employee of our Board. The State Board found no probable cause to proceed with the complaint.
Our board functions as a body. Allegations that I made a statement at any time indicating authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board are untrue. In fact, at a staff meeting attended by our Assistant County Manager, Deputy Director, Mr. Dovi, and other staff, we discussed that only the Board has authority to make policy decisions.
I proceeded to call a meeting of our Board for later in the week to take up the issue of an office-wide hybrid remote work policy Mr. Dovi felt strongly about, that had not yet been considered or adopted by our Board. Mr. Dovi was invited and encouraged to offer input and joined our meeting remotely. He was in no way compelled.
North Carolina's election systems, including our paper ballots and tabulator system, are the best in the country. It is the responsibility of our Board to pair these tools with a team of elections professionals who embrace a superior level of integrity to ensure free, fair, and accurate results for our voters and candidates.
When State Auditor Dave Boliek appointed me to serve as Chair of the Cumberland County Board of Elections, a county where he lived and served in the DA’s office for many years, he charged me with raising standards and improving delivery of elections services in Cumberland County, while making it easy to vote and hard to cheat.
Integrity is not optional, nor is it a switch that can be turned on and off. It must guide every decision we make, and action we take.
Nothing is more important than protecting the sacred rights of voters, and the process by which we elect political leadership in this nation, this state, and in Cumberland County, by embracing high and exacting standards, with strong accountability
Our Board has been working for months, laying the groundwork for improving staffing, training, and communications, to provide greater accuracy and transparency in our elections process. We are grateful to the Board of Commissioners for funding our budget request for FY 2026-2027, including an increase in personnel positions that will help us reach these goals.
Our Board continues to move forward with making the Cumberland County Board of Elections the most accountable, professional, and productive office in the state.
Cumberland County deserves no less.
—Linda Devore, Chair Cumberland County Board of Elections
(Photo: Linda Devore-Courtesy photo)