Past and present members of the county’s Board of Elections, co-workers, and friends gathered for a festive send-off Friday afternoon for long-time elections director Kathy Holland who is retiring.
Holland has worked in the elections office for 31 years, the last 18 as its director. She is also the president of the state’s Association of Election Directors.
Holland was also surprised by the presentation, made by state representative Dennis Riddell, of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor that the governor awards.
Although it was difficult to tell whether Holland was more surprised and thrilled by the prestigious state honor or by the presentation of a football signed by UNC football coach Mack Brown. Holland and her husband Monte are avid Carolina fans and regular attenders of football games in Chapel Hill.
Also present for the Friday afternoon celebration, which took place at the Captain White House, home of the Alamance Arts Council, was state elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell.
Holland’s presumed successor as Alamance County’s elections director is Dawn Hurdle, a current staff member who members of the county’s elections board have designated as the next director; that decision is subject to final approval by the state board of elections which is still pending.
