PENDER COUNTY — One month after Brad George left the Pender County Board of Commissioners, his seat remains vacant after commissioners tabled the appointment of his replacement — Beth Burns — in light of another challenge to her ascendancy.
Burns was scheduled to be appointed to the open District 1 seat during Tuesday night’s meeting after being recommended by the Pender County GOP Executive Committee on Aug. 20. The recommendation — which Burns won by one vote — was challenged in August but upheld by the North Carolina Republican Party.
The state’s decision is now being challenged, and as a result, the commissioners decided to table her appointment in a 3-1 vote, with Jimmy Tate voting against the motion.
READ MORE: State GOP dismisses complaint against commissioner appointment in Pender County
“I see a person in the audience that has been duly recommended by the GOP,” Tate said Tuesday night, referring to Burns, “and it seems like with all of these challenges, if Pender County is gonna be known for one thing it’s legal complaints.”
Burns did not respond to Port City Daily for comment but has faced a rocky road to getting appointed. She won the appointment against Shayne Frey. Frey won the March primary election and will face off against Tim Zizack this November for the District 1 seat.
However, Commissioner Randy Burton submitted a question to the North Carolina Republican Party after the executive committee vote asking if a spouse is barred from voting for their partner during the appointment process. The question came after Burns’ husband, Jim Burns, on the GOP executive committee, cast a vote for George’s replacement.
The state party found her recommendation would stand and all rules were followed. The county GOP also released a statement in support of the appointment.
“The Pender County GOP stands by the validity of the Executive Committee’s vote recommending Beth Burns to fill the District 1 vacancy,” party officials wrote on social media. “The Executive Committee followed the procedures established by its governing rules, and the vote was conducted in accordance with the Pender County GOP Plan of Organization and applicable parliamentary procedure.”
The commissioners did not share who filed the challenge against the state ruling during Tuesday’s meeting. Port City Daily asked Joshua Smith, chair of the Pender GOP, who also didn’t know about its origination and is awaiting information from the state party.
Commissioner Brent Springer motioned to table the appointment until “litigation” concluded. Smith told Port City Daily he was unaware of any official court case.
Springer also did not have more details.
“I don’t know that side of it because I’m not involved in it and I don’t want to be involved in it,” he told Port City Daily.
Springer also elaborated on his vote.
“It’s not that I want to put Mrs. Burns out of office or withhold the position from the party, but I think it’s important to understand, number one, why didn’t she run during the primaries and let the voters decide versus 15 people?” Springer said.
An email was also referenced during the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday regarding the appeal. Port City Daily asked for a copy of the email from the county but did not receive it by press.
Springer also would not share it with Port City Daily and said he did not read it: “I just kind of dismissed it and let it go by the wayside.”
Commissioner Tate put forth a motion to accept Burns’ appointment but it died without a second. He then expressed frustration with his commissioners, saying they needed to set aside any personal feelings and respect the county GOP vote.
“What they’re trying to do, in my opinion, is use the justice system unjustifiably to get people out of office,” Tate said, referencing the multiple challenges to Burns’ appointment. “It’s not right for her to sit here tonight, for her, her husband, her family’s here, everyone here tonight and then we’re not appointing her and the GOP ruled on this several weeks ago.”
Tate did not respond to Port City Daily’s interview request and neither did Chair Burton.
Though Jerry Groves wrote in a statement: “I certainly didn’t want Mrs. Burns to be seated and lose her seat on the Board of Education and something unforeseen happened on the Board of Commissioners. I was looking out for her.”
Burns has served on the school board for eight years and her announcement to resign was contingent upon commissioners’ approval of her appointment.
Regarding the email commissioners received, Groves told Port City Daily it was “an attorney question.”
In addition to requesting an interview with Burton, Port City Daily asked the chair if he was behind the most recent challenge. Burton didn’t respond.
During public comment Tuesday, community members made their displeasure known with how the process has been drawn out.
“Put your big boy clothes on and get on with business,” Frankie Saunders said. “This is grown-ups business. I mean, you know, Mrs. Beth Burns is a good person, she needs to be sitting up there.”
She yielded the rest of her time to her husband Louis Saunders.
“Listen, gentlemen, the executive committee vote was valid. The North Carolina GOP found the complaint completely invalid,” Saunders said. “I can tell you this, too, folks: I can guarantee if the vote had been the other way, you wouldn’t hear a peep. You would not hear one word. We would go along with it, but you all lose and you whine and cry like a bunch of babies. While I’m at it, this so called new complaint, the Pender County GOP has not received that complaint. I’d like a proof copy of that tonight please.”
As Burns awaits the board’s decision, she will remain on the board of education. The next board of commissioners meeting is Sept. 21.
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