The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to appoint Matt Hughes to the seat on the town board being vacated by longtime commissioner Brian Lowen.

Hughes said in a release that he was “humbled and thankful” to the board for “having the confidence in my skills, qualifications, abilities, and what I would bring to the Board.”

Lowen announced recently that he would be stepping down from the board in late March. Hughes was selected from five applicants to fill the seat. The current board conducted interviews of the five applicants in late February.

Hughes, a Hillsborough native, ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2016. He also served as chair of the Orange County Democrats for several years and is currently the second vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Hughes said he will work to provide Hillsborough residents with “positive, productive, and proactive leadership on issues ranging from affordable housing to development and infrastructure as there is much I hope to offer the town in the months and years to come.”

Current board member Jenn Weaver Tweeted her congratulations to Hughes following Monday night’s decision.

Hughes, 27, has been serving on several appointed boards and commissions throughout Orange County.

Hughes will be sworn in as a commissioner in April. His seat on the board is up for election in 2019.

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