Murphy – Gary Kilpatrick is celebrating his retirement after 25 years with the Cherokee County Board of Elections. From paper ballots to early voting changes, Kilpatrick has seen a lot of changes.
The Cherokee County Board of Elections provides lawful, efficient and timely execution of all elections. The board consists of five members: three Democrats and two Republicans, each elected on a two-year term, according to the county’s website.
Director of Elections Leighsha Jones said Kilpatrick was very fair, non-partisan and treated everyone the same.
“People could have complete confidence in the process because he was chairman,” Jones said. “He strived to do what was right and keep everyone happy.”
As for a new chair, Jones said names of candidates have already been submitted to the state. That person should be appointed within the next few weeks.
The elections board usually nominates a chair, then the governor approves the nomination. This is done every two years, Kilpatrick said. The chair is usually a member of the party in power, which can change when a new governor is voted in.
“We have been honored by those who showed up and said kind words about dad,” said Monica Holley, Kilpatrick’s daughter. “A lot of past board members he has worked with over the years came to the celebrations, and it felt like a reunion.”
“Like a homecoming, that’s the way we ran the board of elections,” Kilpatrick said. The motto for the board was to leave politics at the door and follow the U.S. Constitution and Federal Election Laws & Regulations bound in a 1,135-page book.
There are 16 voting precincts in Cherokee County. Kilpatrick said the board has formed a fine-toothed system for error-proof voting.
Honest, straight and fair are the words Kilpatrick said his father lived by, and himself, as he grew up in Cherokee County.
Kilpatrick served as a probation/patrol officer for 20 years before retiring and helped found the Ranger Volunteer Fire Department in 1974. He also served as Cherokee County fire marshal for 16 years.