The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors held a Special Called meeting on June 26 in hopes of selecting a citizen to serve on the board representing the Cullen/Red House District. Members first convened in closed session to review four letters of interest that were received from individuals who expressed an interest in filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Dr. Nancy Carwile.

Alicia G. Adams, David L. Moore, Amy Crystal Scruggs Shepherd and Benny O. Marston all submitted letters of interest to serve on the Board of Supervisors.

Members spent over an hour in closed session before exiting and made no choice.

In open session County Attorney Russell Slayton read a statement to have the Circuit Court Judge make the final decision in selecting a member. On a motion by Phenix/Aspen Supervisor Donna Fore and second by Wylliesburg/Red Oak Supervisor Kay Pierantoni, all other members voted yes.

On Friday, June 28, an emergency called meeting to review applications for the vacant board seat and to make an appointment was held and once again no decision could be reached.

The Board of Supervisors had until June 30 to appoint someone.

According to County Administrator Daniel Witt, board members Gary Walker and Butch Shook signed off on the emergency called meeting and all other members agreed to attend.
“The hope was to offer or reach a compromise, but that was not done so the judge(s) will make the decision,” said Witt.

Following Friday’s meeting Board Chairman Garland Hamlett, Jr. said, “The Board of Supervisors was not able to reach a consensus of the candidates. The county attorney prepared the legal document to send to the Circuit Court Judge for a court appointment by the Judge. The judge requested the Board of Supervisors to meet again to see if a consensus could be made. Therefore, we met this morning as an emergency called meeting. Again, a consensus wasn’t reached, and the judge will make an appointment sometime around July 15.”

With this decision, there is now an invitation to qualified voters in the Cullen/Red House District who are interested in appointment to the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors to submit their interest by 5 p.m. on July 15 to the Charlotte County Circuit Court. A cover letter, resume and written references from a qualified voter in the Cullen/Red House District must be submitted to the clerk of the court by the deadline to be considered.

The unexpired term for the Cullen/Red House District extends through Dec. 31.

Currently, there are three individuals who have been certified to be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot for election to the district seat.

This appointment by the judge would be to fill the unexpired term.