WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- During election season, automated calls from candidates are nothing out of the norm, but last night and this morning some New Hanover County voters got one with what sounds like unexpected endorsements from Commissioner Brian Berger.
"This is Brian Berger, New Hanover County Commissioner," the robo-call says. "Please support my two good friends Woody White and Michael Lee. Please vote for them as you would vote for me. Thank you. Your county commissioner, Brian Berger."
This message is what folks are saying they heard over a call that showed up from a county government number.
"Apparently there are ways you set up calls and mask the identities," New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet said.
Coudriet says they have looked into it, and the robo-calls did not come from the New Hanover County Government Center.
"We are not part or party to any calls that have been made," he said.
Other viewers say the call they got came from Berger's phone.
"The two calls I got had Brian Berger's cell number," WWAY viewer Cookie Armstrong said on Facebook. "Did they take his phone away? If not, they are probably coming for him."
What makes this story so strange is Berger and White have butted heads for months. Berger was even quoted calling White "a bully."
Coudriet says this scam has hurt the county government's credibility.
"I never want anyone to lose confidence in their county government," he said.
Both Lee and White renounced the calls.
We tried reaching out to Berger, but we have not heard back.
