SOUTHPORT — The Southport Planning Board is facing a change-up yet again, with some familiar faces and newbies applying for a newly vacant position. However, the board of aldermen were at odds last week as former planning board chair Sue Hodgin returned to the application pool.
At its Feb. 12 meeting, Alderman Lowe Davis made a motion to remove the planning board appointments from the agenda to allow more applications since the board received three in a month. It came to the surprise of other board members and the mayor, yet passed 4-2 with aldermen Robert Carroll and Karen Mosteller dissenting.
READ MORE: ‘Didn’t pass the sniff test’: Former Southport PB chair speaks about reappointment rejection
ALSO: Southport planning chair not reappointed, political retaliation questioned by board members
Davis reasoned the position posting remained active for a short period of time, though she said she spoke to several people who expressed interest in it but only after it closed. The position opened when former Vice Chair Kevin Locklin resigned in October due to moving away from Southport.
Three applicants to replace his vacancy were received from Oct. 22 through Nov. 21. According to Southport ordinance Sec. 13-26, it’s typical to advertise vacancies for a voluntary board or committee for 14 days, so the original posting went over this timeframe. According to city spokesperson ChyAnn Ketchum, board and committee positions are usually up for a month while reposted vacancies are active for 14 days.
“Typically, we receive seven or eight applications,” Davis said at last Thursday’s meeting. “I’ve talked to people who applied last year and the year before who were not appointed, but who appeared to certainly have many qualifications and are interested in applying again. They completely failed to understand or see any reference to a posting for this.”
Applications received were from Sue Hodgin, Ed Ekert, and David Geary. Geary is a new applicant, who moved from New Jersey in the last few years, and formerly owned his own home repair and construction company, according to his application.
Ekert is currently an alternate member of the planning board, as appointed last year. According to Planning Board Chair Larry Ashley, in an email sent to the board of aldermen, he explained it was tradition for an alternate to take over a full-time vacancy.
Hodgin is well-known to the aldermen, having formerly served on the planning board since 2022 and also as chair. Hodgin attempted to re-up her term last summer, but was not reappointed as some aldermen wanted to bring fresh voices to the planning board — despite the fact it also would make 75% of the board having less than six months of experience.
Planning board members at the time, including Ashley and Locklin, recommended Hodgin’s reappointment, as did aldermen Mosteller and Carroll.
Often at odds with the board of aldermen, Hodgin was not shy about calling elected leaders out for transparency issues as it related to development policies — such as conditional zoning. She also questioned their moves going against planning board recommendations, such as when the aldermen voted for the historic courthouse to house the police department. The planning board didn’t find the space would suit growth and space needs of the PD.
Upon being ousted last year, Hodgin appeared back before the aldermen during public comment, armed with an aeresol can that she would spray each time addressing a claim about her that didn’t “pass the sniff test.” She also accused the aldermen of retaliating in her reappointment denial, believing the vote was pre-determined.
“It was not a secret that I was not a supporter of the former mayor or for his bid to be re-elected,” Hodgin told Port City Daily Monday.
Former Mayor Rich Alt took the reins from Joe Pat Hatem, Southport mayor from November 2019 to December 2023, two years ago but lost his re-election to Hatem in 2025.
Hodgin said she threw her name into the planning board hat this time around because she wanted to continue to serve her community.
“I reapplied like anyone would have when they feel like they haven’t finished what they wanted to do,” she said.
Hodgin added she still had services she could render and experiences she could use for the city: “And obviously this town thought this before, or I would not have been appointed and served as long as I did.”
A committee consisting of two planning board members and two aldermen vet and interview candidates before recommendations go to the aldermen for a final vote. Aldermen Rebecca Kelley and Mosteller, and planning board Chair Ashley and Vice Chair Fred Fiss unanimously agreed to go with Ekert and make Hodgin an alternate before the aldermen took it up last week.
“It’s a disservice to the people who pay attention and who apply to open it back up when we got final candidates,” Mosteller said about Davis’ motion to continue the search. “The interview committee did the interviews and were all in agreement that we had good candidates. I don’t understand, but this is unprecedented.”
The planning board is a volunteer position with the city and members serve three-year terms.
“At some point, people are gonna stop volunteering,” Mosteller said.
Carroll took issue that the recommendation was unanimous but more so that the suggestion to extend applications blindsided the aldermen and everyone who applied.
“Why did you not bring this up when the agenda was presented last week?” he asked. “Because you didn’t.”
Davis reinforced it would be fair to reopen applications and allow more people who want to volunteer for the board and the city. Carroll pointed out if the people Davis spoke to really cared, they would have cared enough to watch the meetings and be aware of the postings when they announced an open position.
Hatem, who only votes in the event of a tie, thought the planning board appointments and reposting of the vacancy could have been handled differently: “I mean a phone call would have helped — or contact us.”
Carroll alluded the reason for delay was due to Hodgin’s recommended appointment as an alternate: “I think it probably has more to do with personalities.”
Davis accused Carroll of reading into the matter in an unrelated way: “I mean you’re certainly welcome to do so, but I’m trying to open this to a wider net of members of the public who are very interested.”
Hodgin told Port City Daily she, too, believed the decision was politically motivated — again.
“It seems to be that if you do speak your opinions and it doesn’t go along with some other opinions, then there are consequences for that,” she said. “I think that’s what’s happening in this.”
Davis, though, suggested part of her issue the previous posting was off-schedule — appointments are usually decided during the beginning of the year or summer. She indicated people wouldn’t know to look for it, per se.
Board vacancies are typically advertised on the city’s website. Hodgin suggested there was also ample communication on social media. Ketchum explained that the city also utilizes the monthly newsletter, and local media outlets were informed of the vacancy.
“My guess is, these people that are so interested have attended all of the planning board meetings on a regular basis and understand what their absences and vacancies are. But who knows?” Carroll remarked.
Davis also took umbrage with the way Carroll described one of the candidates, saying they received “two good candidates” and “one really bad candidate.”
“Let’s not say ‘bad candidate,’” Davis argued.
Carroll doubled down: “I think the word was ‘horrible.’”
Despite having recommended both Ekert and Hodgin, Kelley ended up voting to remove the appointment from the evening’s agenda and reposting it for more applicants. Joining the vote besides Davis were Marc Spencer and Paul Gross.
Hodgin explained she has not spoken to any of the aldermen but added: “I shouldn’t have to ‘lobby’ for a seat for which I’ve already been deemed qualified.”
The posting for the vacant spot on the planning board is active and the position will remain posted for 14 days, according to Ketchum.
New applicants will go through interviews with the committee before another round of recommendations are made to the aldermen. Previous applicants will not have to go through additional interviews.
Residents are also encouraged to watch out for text and e-notifications from the city, and the vacancy notice could appear in the newsletter.
[Ed. note: The article was amended to change the newsletter upload schedule from “weekly” to “monthly.”]
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