Carney Marks Final Day in Office
Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney’s retirement is effective Oct. 1, 2026, marking the end of his tenure following two years of pressure over a "pantless" scandal.
Carney announced his departure earlier in the month. He was caught pantless with a woman who is not his wife at Town Hall after hours in October 2024.
Town council gave Mayor Carney a vote of no confidence earlier this year, and Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Dingler will serve as mayor starting Thursday to complete Carney’s term ending in November 2027.
Carney stated he was "fighting through a lot of stuff" at the time and blamed his decision-making on mixing alcohol with anxiety medication. He told WBTV in 2024 that alcohol and anxiety medication did not work well with him regarding the incident.
Carney cannot be disqualified or recalled due to the censure but still has 19 months of his term remaining at the time of the vote.
Legal Battles Over Surveillance Footage
A judge ordered the Town of Mooresville on April 15, 2026, to release after-hours town hall footage showing Mayor Chris Carney without pants, following a lawsuit filed by WBTV.
Mooresville officials initially denied requests for surveillance footage, claiming it was not a public record because it could be used to anticipate or monitor law enforcement violations.
Former IT employee Jeff Noble filed a lawsuit in January 2026 alleging retaliation after discovering video showing Carney without pants; he amended the complaint to claim the female companion was partially undressed.
Former assistant police chief Frank Falzone filed a lawsuit in February 2026, claiming town leaders weaponized the internal affairs process against him for investigating incidents involving the mayor.
Former IT Director Chris Lee filed a lawsuit in March 2026, alleging he was pressured to suppress or delete video showing Carney and a female consultant in states of partial or complete undress and sexual arousal.
Council Response and Public Trust
Independent: Mayor Chris Carney refused to resign despite a 4-2 vote of no confidence by the Mooresville Board of Commissioners over the incident.
Commissioner Gary West acknowledged the mayor's conduct was not in keeping with expected standards, while Commissioner Dana Tucker expressed concern that public trust had been "shredded and tattered."
The Incident at Town Hall
The specific circumstances of the October 2024 event have come under scrutiny as details emerge. The incident occurred on Oct. 10, 2024, when Carney went to town hall after midnight with a woman receiving taxpayer dollars as a communications consultant.
According to reports, motion detectors triggered twice during the visit, prompting a police response to the scene.