Until commissioners-elect Skip Watkins and Rob Zapple can join the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, the election of a new chair and vice-chair will be postponed.
The selection of new leadership was scheduled for a Dec. 1 meeting, which county staff initially interpreted as required by state law, even though the seating of Watkins and Zapple is halted until the North Carolina State Board of Elections resolves an elections protest appeal. But during the meeting, Chairman Woody White said the law offers “a few choices.” He noted the law calls for an election of the chair and vice-chair on the first Monday in December of each even numbered year.
“When you look at the plain reading of the words, it appears we should hold the election today. But when you pause and reflect on the purpose of the law … we all agree that it was meant to further the will of the electorate on elections,” White said before the board unanimously agreed to delay the election until a full board is seated according to the choice of voters at the polls in November.
The state elections board tentatively scheduled a hearing for elections protest appeals filed across the state, including the one filed in New Hanover County, for Dec. 9. Elections board spokesperson Joshua Lawson said appeals protests are “not uncommon.”
The elections protest, filed by county resident John Christian Anderson, calls for a new election for the commissioners race or disqualification of all votes cast at the Williston precinct due to allegations of improper influence of voters and delayed delivery of votes on election night. The New Hanover County Board of Elections dismissed the protest during a Nov. 20 meeting, while a recount of almost 67,000 votes was underway in the next room, a process that confirmed Zapple’s victory over Republican candidate Dr. Derrick Hickey by less than 200 votes. Disqualification of the W29 precinct votes could have changed the results of the election.
White congratulated Watkins and Zapple, who attended the meeting from seats in the audience.
“This was supposed to be a festive occasion, where we say thank you to one outgoing commissioner and welcome two incoming commissioners. Unfortunately, circumstances are such that we can’t welcome them in, but we all look forward to having five commissioners, and we commend you all for winning the election,” White said.
The terms of commissioners Thomas Wolfe and Brian Berger are extended until the new commissioners can be seated. Commissioners are next scheduled to meet Dec. 15 at 9 a.m.
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