Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post

Laura Lyerly, the 29-year-old Democratic candidate for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, has no plans to leave the ballot.

Her 10-year-old guilty plea on felony charges has raised questions about whether she can legally run or serve.

She told the Post this morning that she would likely challenge any effort to remove her from the ballot.

Lyerly, of 8655 U.S. 601, pleaded guilty to a felony county of embezzlement from K-mart in 1998. She received a prayer for judgment continued.

The state Attorney General’s Office is preparing an opinion on whether the prayer for judgment counts as a conviction. The N.C. Constitution prohibits people convicted of felonies from holding public office.

Lyerly said the incident at K-mart isn’t something she is proud of, but she hasn’t tried to hide it.

See complete story in Thursday’s Post.