Pamlico board elects chairman; new members sworn in

BAYBORO -- The Pamlico County Board of Commissioners and a small audience said farewell to departing board Chairman Doug Brinson on Monday night, with an appreciative round of applause.

Brinson, a Democrat, had been on the board for four terms before he lost in the November election to Republican Ken Heath of Arapahoe.

Heath was sworn in by Clerk of Court Steven Hollowell, along with re-elected board members Chris Mele of Oriental and Roy Brinson of Reelsboro.

The board elected new leadership - Chairman Paul Delamar III and Vice Chairman Ann Holton.

Both were elected unanimously. Carl Ollison had served as vice chairman under Doug Brinson during the past year.

Delamar said he looked forward to the chairman's role, and hoped the board would continue building consensus in decisions.

"The chairman is one out of seven, just like anyone else," he said. "The chairman sits in the center of the table and I hope does his best to moderate the discussion and allow all the points of view on the board to be heard; and maintains decorum at the meetings."

Delamar, 32, said he appreciated the unanimous vote.

"It is an honor to have the board select you and that means they think you will be able to do a good job," he said. "But I think each of the seven of us is capable."

Delamar, a Bayboro attorney, became a commissioner by appointment in 2006, filling the term of Bill Moore after Moore pleaded guilty to felony charges in a state ferry system scandal. Delamar was then elected to a four-year term.

He is a Pamlico County native and the son of parents long involved in the public schools. He said the chairman's job added a few duties to what are already busy schedules for any of the commissioners.

"It is going to be more time, energy, and effort, but it is like any other job, you should do it the best you can," he said. "I hope we can get some thing done this year that will help improve people's lives in Pamlico County."