One member of Alamance County’s governing board seemed utterly nonplussed this week when he received an ostensibly unbidden nomination to serve as the group’s chairman for the coming calendar year.
Steve Carter, the long-serving vice chairman of Alamance County’s commissioners, was ultimately reconfirmed in his existing role when he and his colleagues held their annual “organizational” meeting on Monday. For a moment, however, Carter appeared to be in contention for a potential promotion when fellow commissioner Pam Thompson nominated him as a replacement for the board’s current chairman John Paisley, Jr.
A frequent critic of Paisley throughout his turn at the helm, Thompson was unable to get any other commissioner to second her motion in favor of Carter. Even her preferred choice for the chairmanship didn’t utter a word to keep the motion alive.
In the meantime, newly-appointed commissioner Kelly Allen nominated Paisley to remain in his role – a motion which was duly seconded by fellow newcomer Ed Priola. The board went on to vote 4-to-1 in favor of Paisley’s continued leadership – with Thompson casting the lone vote of dissent.
The board was much more united when it came to the office of vice chairman. Paisley himself nominated Carter to continue in this role, and the rest of the board unanimously concurred with his recommendation once it had received a second from Allen.
In the end, the process of Carter’s selection proved so smooth that even Paisley felt the need to underscore the success of his second in command.
“Congratulations,” he said as he shook Carter’s hand, “you got all five of us.”
