Editor’s note: As we approach 2013, we’re taking a look back at our top stories of 2012. From Friday, Dec. 28, through New Year’s Day, we will publish the top 20 stories since Port City Daily’s launch in September. Port City Daily’s top stories were determined by readership. The story below was first published Nov. 14.
Carolina Beach Mayor Ray Rothrock and Councilman Lonnie Lashley quit their elected posts Tuesday night shortly after the resignation of Tim Owens as town manager.
Rothrock said Wednesday he resigned willfully after some council members “compelled” Owens to step down. “I didn’t foresee it,” Rothrock said. “It was my decision to resign.”
Asked how Owens was so compelled, Rothrock said he would rather an explanation come from council members Steve Shuttleworth, Sarah Friede and Bob Lewis–the board’s remaining members–who were not immediately available Wednesday morning.
Lashley was also unavailable.
Rothrock did, however, express frustration with fellow council members with regard to communication and teamwork. “I did not see how we could accomplish anything,” he said before citing priorities like beach nourishment and updating town infrastructure. “There’s just so many things that the town needs to do that it can’t without a town manager.
“I got the hell out of Dodge.”
The Town of Carolina Beach had not named an interim manager at the time of this story’s publication but said in statement Wednesday morning it was working to fill the vacancy. The statement explained:
“At the Council Meeting last night, the Town Council accepted the resignation of the Town Manager, Tim Owens. The Town would like to thank Mr. Owens for his years of service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
“Subsequently, after accepting the Manager’s resignation, Mayor Ray Rothrock and Councilman Lonnie Lashley also tendered their resignation.
“The Town is moving forward to fill the open vacancies in the near future.”
Owens began his position at Carolina Beach in April 2006 after serving as Pamlico County manager since 2004. Prior, he was Shallotte’s town administrator and, before that, assistant town manager for the Town of Kitty Hawk, according to a press release the Town of Carolina Beach issued upon Owens’ hiring.
Before his resignation Tuesday he had earned a salary of $98,054.
Rothrock won his 2011 mayoral election with 47 percent of the vote, beating out two other candidates for a two-year term. He previously served three terms from 1997-2003.
The term of Lashley, a retired computer project manager, was set to expire in 2013.
Contact Ben Brown at [email protected] or (910) 772-6335. On Twitter: @benbrownmedia
