Editor’s note: This article has been updated since first posted to add the term of office of the appointed individual.
Peachtree – Eight Cherokee County Republicans, including former county commissioner Randy Phillips, have applied to fill Phillips’ District 2 seat on the board of commissioners.
Nine Republicans will select the next commissioner representing District 2, which includes Marble and Peachtree. Their decision is expected to be announced Saturday morning.
The seat was left vacant on Dec. 1, when Justin Hyde, who won the seat after defeating incumbent Phillips in the GOP primary and running unopposed in the November general election, turned down the seat.
Hyde, an emergency medical technician who works for Cherokee County, said he was forced to reject the seat or face losing his job over a potential conflict of interest. He could have sought an exception from the board, but only if his annual pay and benefits would be less than $60,000.
Because Hyde is a Republican, the Cherokee County Republican Party Executive Committee is responsible for picking his replacement. The selected individual will serve the full four-year term, according to the Cherokee County Board of Elections.
The county GOP released names of applicants Monday evening, shortly after the 5 p.m. deadline to apply. No details about the candidates was released, but in some cases information is already available. Candidates for the board of commissioners are:
- Kandace Barnett.
- Lance Bristol, principal at Martins Creek Elementary School and former principal at Andrews High School.
- Judy Edwards, former county liaison for U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.).
- Max Norton of WCVP radio.
- Alex Parker, a member of the local GOP executive committee.
- Chuck Parris.
- Randy Phillips, outgoing District 2 commissioner and retired school resources officer.
- Mark Stiles, former director of Four Square Community Action Inc.
The selected individual will serve two years, with the office up for election for the final two years.
Members of the Cherokee County Republican Party Executive Committee are:
- Dallas McMillan, chair, Unaka.
- Karen Close, vice chair, Grape Creek.
- Gaye Mathis, secretary, Topton.
- Ginger Hatchett, treasurer, Murphy South.
- Madison Adamovich, member at-large, Topton.
- Mark Kephart, member at-large, Murphy North.
- Ronnie Ledford, member at-large, Hot House.
- Jonathan McNabb, member at-large, Hiwassee Dam
- Alex Parker, member at-large, Peachtree. As an applicant, Parker will not be included in the selection discussion.
The process
The Cherokee County GOP must fill this position within 30 days of when it became aware of the vacancy on Dec. 1. The party will submit its choice by Jan. 1, 2025, and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will act on the referral at the board’s next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Murphy.
Residents of District 2, which includes Marble and Peachtree, had until Monday afternoon to apply for the open position to the Cherokee County Republican Party Executive Committee.
The committee reviewed the applications during a non-public work session on Tuesday and were scheduled to interview the applicants at a non-public work session starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Penland Senior Center, 69 Alpine St. in downtown Murphy.
The public is invited to attend a special called meeting of the executive committee at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Peachtree Community Center, 125 Memory Lane. Candidates will be given two minutes to make statements, but there will be no discussion from the floor, as is customary in executive committee meetings.
Following the candidates’ presentations, the committee will enter a closed session to vote, then come out of closed session to announce their decision. The selected candidate for the District 2 commissioner seat will be announced immediately after the vote.
If you have any questions, reach out to any member of the Cherokee County GOP Executive Committee via cherokee.nc.gop.
The Cherokee Scout will be live-streaming Saturday’s meeting from Peachtree if internet connectivity is available from that location.