Two people have already applied for a vacant seat on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners created Tuesday when Commissioner Keith Branch resigned.
David Lee Jackson of North Second Street, Smithfield, a managing partner with Dees, Jackson, Jackson & Associates PA in Smithfield, applied Wednesday for the seat. Mark Kelly Lee of Whitley Drive, Smithfield, a pharmaceutical maintenance technician, applied Thursday afternoon
Lee Jackson
Jackson, a lifelong Johnston County resident, attended Smithfield Selma High and graduated from Wake Forest University in 1988.
Jackson was named the Smithfield Selma Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2013. He is the current President of Neuse Charter School Facilities, Inc and served as Chairman of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau from 2007 to 2009. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation between 1999 and 2001. Jackson is also a member of Centenary United Methodist Church.
“I have been a lifelong resident of Johnston County, and the future of Johnston County is important to me,” Jackson told WTSB News on Friday. “I want it to be a place that our children will want to live and work. With my love and knowledge of the County, along with the experience I have in finance, education, business, and leadership roles, I feel I am uniquely qualified to be a worthy servant on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners.”
Mark Lee
Lee, a graduate of Clayton High School and Wake Technical College. For the last 17 years has lived in West Smithfield. He is President of the SSS Dugout Club. He is volunteer coach for Smithfield Parks and Recreation and a volunteer for the Smithfield Selma High Booster Club.
“I had planned to run for District 6 Commissioner in 2020 when the seat came available,” Lee told WTSB. “Now that the seat is open I decided it was the perfect opportunity. Although I don’t have a professional political background I feel that I have the ability to make good, sound, fair decisions for our county taxpayers if I’m selected for the position.”
Lee, 57, currently works for Eisai-RTP Parenteral Facility. He previously worked as Talecris/Grifols in Clayton and Fresenius Kabi Pharmacia in Clayton.
Commissioner Branch, 53, of Smithfield was elected 9 months ago. He stepped down due to demands from a new job he recently accepted. His last day on the board is September 30th. Under state law the board must fill the vacancy within 60 days. The replacement must be a member of the Republican Party and reside in District 6.
The deadline to apply for the vacant commissioners seat is Friday, September 29th at 5:00pm.
