Staff report

County commissioners are expected to get an earful tonight over a resolution supporting the North Carolina Marriage Amendment.

County offices and commissioners have been flooded with calls and e-mails primarily from opponents of the amendment.

Chairman Carl Ford asked for the resolution to be placed on the consent agenda — items typically supported by all commissioners and approved without discussion.

Ford said Monday that in an e-mail exchange last week, all commissioners endorsed the resolution.

Sen. James Forrester who represents Gaston, Iredell and Lincoln and Sen. Jim Jacumin, who represents Burke and Caldwell counties are asking county boards across the state to support the resolution. They plan to file a bill later this month calling for an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution reading: “Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” Several people have contacted the County Manager’s Office and plan to speak at the meeting at 7 tonight.

Mike Clawson, state coordinator for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays contacted the Post to say “My troops are rallied and we are circling the wagons.”