Haw River has decided on a new mayor. The town council voted unanimously, 4-0, Monday night to elevate mayor pro tem Lee Lovette, a 17-year veteran on the town council, to the mayor’s chair.
Lovette, who will turn 79 on Monday, has served on the council since 2007. Now retired, he was a long-time teacher and coach at Eastern High School. His granddaughters, Presley and Pryce Lovette held the Bible during his swearing in Monday night.
The mayoral vacancy had been caused by the resignation of Kelly Allen, the town’s former mayor, who was named to fill a vacancy on the board of county commissioners in December.
Allen watched the selection of her successor from the back row of the council chambers.
Meanwhile, the council also named Patty Wilson as the town’s new mayor pro tem. Brenda Clapp held the Bible for Wilson; town clerk Lesley Gonzalez administered both oaths of office.
The members seemed somewhat divided over whether to attempt to fill the council seat of Lovette for the remaining months of his term, which expires in December.
Councilman Shawn Riggan suggested that the council should not attempt to fill the vacancy, but rather await a decision by Haw River voters during the upcoming November elections.
That sentiment was echoed by Lovette, as well, who said he felt the council could operate fine with four members.
The last time a vacancy occurred on the council – after the 2019 election when then-council member Allen was elected mayor over incumbent Buddy Boggs – the remaining members deadlocked 2-2 on who to appoint, ultimately leaving the fourth council seat vacant for two years and leaving the selection to the voters at the 2021 election.
Riggan was elected, and Lovette re-elected, that year. This time, it was noted that the vacancy would exist for less than a year, with filing for all municipal council and mayoral seats to run statewide between July 7 to July 18.
The council opted for councilman Steve Lineberry’s suggestion to resume consideration of the council vacancy, and whether to fill it, at its March 3 meeting.
