Greensboro, NC -- After a state senate candidate held a questionable campaign event over the weekend, the State Board of Elections cleared the air of any questions.
On Saturday, Greensboro City Council Member and State Senate candidate Trudy Wade held an event at a gas station in Whitsett.
Wade's campaign paid the gas tax for the first 100 customers.
When News 2 asked the State Board of Elections if that could be considered paying for votes, since some of the customers would have a chance to vote for her, state officials said it was lawful as long as Wade did not solicit for votes.
Wade talked to people at the event and asked them how they felt about the gas tax.
After the event, a News 2 viewer emailed News 2 to ask if Wade was in violation of the law because of the signs and campaign shirts at the event.
The shirts that Wade and campaign volunteers wore, read "Trudy for NC Senate".
The viewer asked if that was considered soliciting for votes.
Here's what State Board of Elections Executive Director Gary Bartlett said:
"Not a violation using signs, shirts and caps. This is a freedom of speech issue protected by the Bill of Rights. There was no quid-quo-pro in offering something of value in turn for their vote. It was open to the first 100 people regardless of age, citizenship, voting status or party."
Hence, there was no violation.
WFMY News 2