Republicans to fill commissioner seat

BEAUFORT – A decision is expected next week on filling a vacant seat on the Carteret County Board of Commissioners.

District 1 Commissioner Pete Allen of Emerald Isle resigned from his seat last month and announced his plans to retire after a longtime career in local government in both elected and hired positions.

Because Allen is a registered Republican, the county’s Republican Party Executive Committee recommends the person to fill the seat. Under state law, the committee’s recommendation is the person who will be appointed.

The person appointed will complete the remainder of Allen’s term, which ends in 2010.

Carteret County Republic Party Chairman Pam Hanson said a special meeting of the party executive committee has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse to make the recommendation.

Hanson said any registered Republican residing within District 1, which includes Emerald Isle, Cape Carteret, Cedar Point, Bogue, Peletier and Stella, may seek the appointment. Those who are eligible and interested should attend the Tuesday meeting to present themselves to the committee.

“They will be given a specific amount of time to address the attendees and then the committee will vote by secret ballot,” Hanson said.

Hanson said she is aware of at least three people interested in serving but did not give names because there may be others that she hasn’t heard from.