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Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.
Walser elected new commissioner chairman
By Heather J. Smith
The Dispatch
The Davidson County Board of Commissioners elected Dr. Max Walser chairman of
the board for 2010 in a 5-2 vote Thursday morning. Sam Watford will serve a
second year as vice chairman.
Walser, the lone Democrat on the board, was nominated by Commissioner Billy
Joe Kepley, who praised Walser’s work with spreading awareness of the needs of
Davidson County.
“He is a commissioner who has been a top vote-getter, a commissioner who has
opened many doors for us and has been a great benefit to us with our
legislative delegation,” Kepley said.
Kepley said Walser brought many local issues to the attention of the North
Carolina General Assembly and U.S. Congress.
“He has been a great asset to the board. The only thing I can find wrong with
him is that he’s a Democrat,” Kepley joked. “I’ve found he’s a good Democrat,
though, because ever since he’s been here, every time we’ve elected a
chairman, he has always voted for a Republican.”
Commissioner Larry Potts nominated Fred McClure, who served as chairman this
past year.
Commissioner Don Truell nominated Kepley for chairman. Kepley said he was
honored but would prefer not to be considered for the position and withdrew
his name.
Kepley, Truell, Watford, Cathy Dunn and Walser voted for Walser for
chairman. Potts and McClure voted for McClure.
Responding to the call for nominations for vice chairman, Walser named
Watford. Truell nominated Potts, who then asked that his name be
withdrawn.
Watford was elected vice chairman by unanimous vote.
Once elections were over, Walser thanked the board for their support and
pledged to do his best as chairman, which he acknowledged is a challenging
position.
“I know it’s tough. I’ve watched Fred and Don and Larry over the years, and I
know it’s a tough job,” Walser said. “I promise to do my best for this county
while in this role and to try to include everybody in the discussion. I
believe we are a good county government, and we’ve got good leadership, and
I’m pleased with what we’ve got here.”
Earlier in the meeting, Jim Tysinger, Davidson County human resources
director, joined the commissioners and the county administrative staff in
recognizing the following employees and representatives for their years of
service:
• 35 years: Brian Grubb
• 30 years: Ruth Ann Copley, David Elliott, Hazel Hughes, Marsha Kincaid and
Shirley Lopp
• 25 years: Guy Cornman III, Myra Forshee, Linda Hairston-Erwin, John Hendren,
Lawrence Lyndon and Pamela Phipps
• 20 years: Carol Conrad, Marillyn Conrad, Angela Craven, John Floyd, Brenda
Hartman, Vickie Hedrick, Joe Silver and Craig Snyder
• 15 years: Barry Alphin, Linda Cantrell, Angelia Chappell, Jeannine Cormier,
Sharon Davis, Kirby Grainger, Alton Hanes II, Tonya Hensley, Becky Hobbs,
David Hodge, Elfriede Holt, Elizabeth Huff, Kathie Hughes, William Kepley,
Kathleen Knox, Kimberly Latham, Ronald Leonard, Cecilia Mensah-Akonful,
Stephanie Murphy, Susan Odom, James Shuskey Jr., Karen Skeen, Casey Tarleton
and Debra Tysinger
• 10 years: Becky Allison, Tanya Baka, Randall Blevins, Teresa Bowers, Lisa
Brunson, Debra Bullock, Dwayne Childress, Venessa Dillon, Christie Eller,
Lottie Everhart, Joni Grubb, Susan Harmon, Tina Hedrick, Clarence Hoke Jr.,
Robert Hyatt, Danny Kennedy, Tammy Koontz, Betty Lanier, Billy Louya, Jeff
McCarn, Sheila Miller, Robin Penninger, Jason Roland, Dennis Shaw, Kimberly
Smith, Jerry Soles Jr., Renee Steed, John Torrence, Jon Wilson, Anita Wood and
Gregory Wood.
• Five years: Robert Bailey, Christi Beckner, Allison Bowers, Derby Brown,
Jerri Bundy, Frankie Calhoun, Courtney Crowson, Julia Crump-Carter, Andrew
Eads, Kenny Elmore, Carol Epley, Mike Everhart, Suji Everhart, Dolores Farlow,
Paige Fine, Kerry Fletcher, Margaret Flowers, Linda Foster, William Gilleland
Jr., Adam Gleave, Teresa Green, David Grice, Brian Grubb, Marc Hanna, Richard
Harper, Quintana Hathcock, Theresa Hicks, Ronda Holder, Pamela Hollman, Jason
Hughes, Pamela Idol, Scott Kirk, Jason Koontz, Tap Lanning, Jackie Leonard,
William Lester, Ricky Lomax, Layton Long, Fred McClure, Scott McCord, Dan
McElligott, Shirley McKinney, Joy Means, April Michael-Ellis, Alfred Mordecai
Jr., Joshua Moretz, James Neel, Michelle Nelson, Jamie Owens, Brandt Peoples,
Tim Phelps, Larry Potts, Rick Prevette, Donna Ratliff, Angela Rhodes, Pamela
Robinson, Matthew Smith, Chris Spillman, Doris Suggs, Robert Taylor, Kerri
Varner, Tina Wallace, Ivan Walser, Lori Willis, Robin Workman and David Young.
Heather J. Smith can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 228 or at
heatherj.smith@the-dispatch.com.
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