Applications Still Being Accepted Through October 25
SMITHFIELD – The Johnston County Board of Comissioners continues to accept applications from interested citizens to be considered for appointment as a Johnston County Commissioner.
The board is seeking to fill the remaining term of former Commissioner Richard D. Braswell who was convicted October 7 of taking indecent liberties with a minor. Braswell’s term does not expire until December 2026. He represented District 3, which includes portions of southern and eastern Johnston County.
As of this afternoon, three people have applied to for the vacancy. They include:
Chad Stewart of Four Oaks, James Gathers Jr., of Four Oaks, and Michael David Rose of Princeton.
Chad Stewart is the general manager of the Johnston County ABC and former county commissioner in District 3. In his application for consideration Mr. Stewart wrote, “I have realized after stepping away from County Commissioner that I miss making a direct impact on the County and helping the people of Johnston County. I feel that I still have more to give to the County and I am ready to bring my experience, passion, and vision back to the board working colaboratively to address the challenges our county faces and to build a brighter future for all our residents.”
James Gathers Jr., the former head custodian at East Clayton Elementary and West Smithfield Elementary School, said in his application, “I want to be appointed as a County Commissioner because I am deeply invested in the future of Johnston County. Having lived and worked here for 70 years, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our community faces, as well as its potential for growth and prosperity… I have consistently aligned myself with the principles of fiscal responsibility, limited government and supporting economic growth which are core tenets of our County. I believe in ensuring that Johnston County continues to thrive as a place where families can prosper, business can grow, and individual freedoms are protected.”
Mr. Gathers has served on the Johnston County Planning Board, Republican Judge for the Board of Election, and Comprehensive Lane Use Committee.
Michael David Rose has been a member of the Princeton Town Board since 2014 and is currently the Mayor Pro Tem. He is the owner of Quickshirts, Inc. and a former teacher in Johnston County Schools.
“I meet the qualification by living in District 3 and by being a Republican. I have served on the Princeton Town Board for the past 11 years and have a good understanding of how a governing body works. I have worked with various Johnston County Commissioners on projects such as the Water/Sewer Authority discussions,” Mr. Rose wrote in his application. “As a lifelong resident of Johnston County, I believe that my experiences as a small business owner/entrepreneur and educator in this county as well as my 11 years on Princeton’s town council give me a well rounded viewpoint as to what the current and future needs of our county are and will be.”
To be eligible for appointment to fill the vacancy, a person must be a member of the Republican Party and a resident of District 3.
Any citizen that wishes to be considered must submit an application with accompanying resume to:
Dana G. Cuddington, Clerk to the Board
Johnston County Manager’s Office
Johnston County Courthouse
207 E. Johnston Street, Room B-206
Post Office Box 1049
Smithfield, North Carolina 27577
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, October 25, 2024 by 3:00 PM. Applications will be date/time stamped at the time of receipt. Applications may be mailed via U.S. Mail, however, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their application is received no later than 3:00 PM on October 25th. Applications received after 3:00 PM on October 25th will not be accepted, regardless of the reason.
Application forms can be downloaded at this link: https://www.johnstonnc.com/files/board/CCApplication.pdf
Well we know the good ole boy system in Joco, will bring Chad Stewart back….
My thoughts exactly! We will get to have another 2 years of having an appointed commissioner, a fake election for the seat where no one runs against him and then at least one term of him “elected”. I would love to see all these commissioners move on to something else in life besides being a commissioner. When a seat becomes vacant there should be an election to fill it quickly.
I think the county manager and the county commissioners do a great job. Very conservative spending and have put the county in a great position financially. My only complaint is we have got to slow the growth. I know the tax money is very hard to turn away but look what it’s doing to our infrastructure, schools, roads, crime and standard of living. We need commissioners who are not getting paid when houses get built. We’ve got a realtor, developer and people who profit off of construction on the board.