County change: New commissioners take office, manager resigns
Published 6:24 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2014
In a meeting that saw two longtime Beaufort County commissioners give up their seats to the recently elected, Beaufort County Manager Randell Woodruff also tendered his resignation.
Monday’s meeting began with three commissioners taking the oath of office as administered by Superior Court Judge Wayland Sermons Jr. Ron Buzzeo and Frankie Waters, both newly elected, and re-elected Commissioner Ed Booth were sworn into office before a crowd of onlookers that spilled into the hallway of the county administrative offices.
Chairman Jerry Langley said an official goodbye to Commissioners Stan Deatherage and Al Klemm, thanking them for their many years of service to the county. Deatherage was a commissioner for 18 years; Klemm, for eight.
Both Buzzeo and Waters jumped headfirst into county politics as Buzzeo nominated new commissioner and fellow Republican Frankie Waters as Board chair. Democrat Ed Booth then nominated Republican Gary Brinn. The vote came to 4-3 in favor of Brinn, with Democrats Robert Belcher, Booth and Langley casting their votes for Brinn.
Commissioner Hood Richardson then suggested the board adjourn the meeting so “the public can sort through this catastrophe.” Richardson called the vote for Chair the result of a back room politics, as Brinn had promised to vote for Waters in lieu of making Richardson Board chair. Richardson accused of Brinn of having “welshed on every promise he has made.”
Langley was voted in as vice-chair.
During a closed session much later in the meeting, Woodruff resigned as Beaufort County manager, a position he has held for over three years. He will assume his new post as Pender County manager in mid-January.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being here,” Woodruff said Tuesday. “It’s been wonderful. The board — they’re a lively board — but they have been extremely supportive of me.”
“I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to work here and work with the board, the citizens and the staff here. They have all been very fine to me and I am thankful for that,” he said.
Woodruff went on to say that the county staff is outstanding, and he’s glad he had the opportunity to hire several staff members. Woodruff’s resignation comes on the heels of longtime Assistant Manager and County Finance Officer Jim Chrisman taking a job with Tideland EMC in September and the November retirements of both County Attorney Billy Mayo and County Clerk Sharon “JoJo” Singleton. Mayo served as county attorney for 46 years, while Singleton had been with county for 30 years, rising through the ranks from secretary to county clerk.
Attorney David Francisco has replaced Mayo. Taking over Singleton’s role as county clerk is Katie Mosher, who was also sworn into office Monday night. Mosher was a deputy clerk in Pitt County, a stroke of luck for Beaufort County, according to Woodruff.
“She already knows the whole system and how the commissioners function and how to do the agendas, so we were lucky to get her,” Woodruff said.
Woodruff said he feels the county is heading in a positive direction and is in a good position economically, especially if it continues to forge partnerships with neighboring Pitt County and Greenville governments.