Murphy – Cherokee County Commissioner Ben Adams, who suddenly finds himself the senior member of the board, struggled with what to call two new board members Monday evening.
He settled on “doctors.”
The nominations of Sue Lynn Ledford and Jeana Conley to be seated as commissioners was accepted, the two took their oaths and then took their seats on the board – the first time two women have served on the board simultaneously and the first time two members have held doctorate-level degrees.
Ledford, a public health nurse, replaces Dan Eichenbaum, a medical doctor who resigned in early March after losing to Ledford in the March 3 Republican primary.
Conley, an educator, replaces Cal Stiles, an Andrews businessman who lost to Conley in the primary and, like Eichenbaum, resigned in early March.
Because Eichenbaum and Stiles would have remained in office until December, their vacancies were filled with individuals recommended by the Cherokee County Republican Party Executive Committee.
The special called meeting Monday had a festive air, with Andrews Mayor James Reid, Murphy Mayor Tim Radford and three members of the Murphy Town Council in the audience, along with family and friends of the new commissioners.
Jan Griggs, a former commissioner and the last woman to serve on the board, was also on hand.
Both Conley and Ledford said they have no illusions that the job will be easy, which could not have been better illustrated than when Ledford made her first motion.
The board faces a flurry of meetings over the next two months covering the annual budget and long-term planning, as well as regular monthly meetings.
The question was, should the board continue meeting once a month, once a month with a community meeting once a month as it was when Eichenbaum was chair or twice a month as it was during previous years?
And should the meetings continue to be on Mondays? And start at what time?
Adams argued for two monthly meetings, while Ledford argued for one, saying they could always add a second meeting if necessary.
Ledford made a motion that had to be revised three times before the board could agree unanimously – the third Tuesday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m. – but not until June. In April and May, regular meetings will be on the third Monday starting at 6:30 p.m.
The new members
As they took their seats, Conley and Ledford commented about their new roles.
Conley thanked voters for supporting her and promised to do her “level best not to let you down.”
Ledford also thanked her supporters and said she loves Cherokee County and will always make decisions she believes are best for the county.
Looking ahead to strategic meetings, Ledford said she hopes to enlist expertise from outside county government so it’s “not just us.”
Alan Bryant, chairman of the board, welcomed the two “to the family,” and warned that it will be “crazy train in a month. I hope everything works out.”
Adams said that Ledford’s experience in public health and Conley’s experience in education will bring important perspectives to the board and help “build the county stronger.”
Commissioner Mark Stiles said he expects a more united board. The two new commissioners will be a “huge asset to the board, the community and the county.”
During the meeting, the board voted unanimously to appoint Adams as vice chair, appoint Conley to the tourism development board and Ledford to the health board.