With Renée Price departing the Orange County Board of Commissioners for the state House, the elected county officials determined on Monday who should replace her immediate leadership role and how to fill her seat.
Price currently serves as the chair of the county commissioners, meaning not only will there be a vacant seat to fill until November 2024, but the commissioners needed to elect a new de facto leader.
The group did so during Monday’s organizational meeting – after swearing in the four commissioners who ran to stay on the board this past fall.
Three incumbent county commissioners took their oaths of office for new terms. Jamezetta Bedford, Sally Greene and Earl McKee each ran unopposed and are set to be on the county board for another four years.
Anna Richards, however, was sworn in after her first official election. Similar to whoever will replace Price, she was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in 2021 as a successor to the departing Mark Dorosin. Richards said Monday she’s excited to finish out the remaining two years in the term and was especially honored that her 96-year-old mother was there to help her take her oath.
“It’s just really gratifying that she was able to be here at this time and see me. She and my dad really were my inspiration for service. They lived [lives] of service and taught us how important it was to be active members of our communities.”
Anna Richards stands with her family, including her seated mother, to take her oath of office as an Orange County Commissioner on December 5, 2022. (Photo via the Orange County Government.)
After the swearing-in ceremony, which featured U.S. Representative-elect Valerie Foushee and local Superior Court Judge Alison Grine, the board held its new elections for chair and vice chair. The commissioners unanimously selected Bedford, who had served as vice chair for the last two years, to assume the mantle of board chair.
Bedford likewise thanked her family in her comments on election, adding that the role is challenging without many adjustments from those in commissioners’ circles.
“We are away from our families and spend a lot of time reading, working, [and] going to meetings,” she said. “We acknowledge that support from our families, neighbors, colleagues and children. And I look forward to working with all of you [commissioners and staff] for another four years.”
The election for vice chair was more split, with McKee earning one more vote than Greene. McKee, who is the longest tenured commissioner and is set to serve his thirteenth year on the board, previously served as vice chair and chair in 2013-14 and 2015-16, respectively.
During his comments, he thanked the citizens of Orange County for “placing faith” in him for a fourth term.
“I’ve enjoyed working with this position [and] hope I have helped improve lives in portions of the county,” said McKee. “I’d also like to thank the board. As we sit, this is one of the most productive and enjoyable boards I’ve sat with in a long time. So, I appreciate the camaraderie and the progress that we’ve made.”
Orange County Commissioner Earl McKee is sworn in for his fourth term on the county board by state senator and future U.S. Representative Valerie Foushee on December 5, 2022. (Photo via the Orange County Government.)
Orange County Commissioner Sally Greene is sworn in for her second term on the county board by Superior Court Judge Alison Grine on December 5, 2022. (Photo via the Orange County Government.)
Price’s seat will become vacant at the end of December, as she takes her new oath in the state House for District 50. Among the agenda items approved Monday were the application questions and timeline for the county board to receive candidates to assume the commissioner role.
Similar to the 2021 appointment process, the board will consult with the Orange County Democratic Party to see if it recommends any specific candidates – as is the party’s right by state law. The applications, which are live now, will close on Friday, January 6, and the current commissioners hope to make an appointment during their February 7 meeting.
Price said she believes the application and appointment process was effective before and added the board can be flexible in its consideration of candidates from the local Democratic party.
“I think you’ll get some good applicants,” said the outgoing commissioner. “And just for the record, I will not have any say in who succeeds me. Because I will not be here when you vote.”
A link to the application for the Orange County Board of Commissioners can be found on the local government’s website.
Photo via the Orange County Government.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines