TOPSAIL BEACH — After the death of Morton Blanchard on March 2, another mayor has been appointed to serve a Pender County beach town.
During the March 12 Topsail Beach commissioners meeting, a 3-1 vote — Tim Zizack dissenting — put Frank Braxton, who was serving as mayor pro tem, in the top leader position.
Braxton is the second mayor appointed by the board in the last six months; elected Mayor Steve Smith passed away unexpectedly in September. The board chose Blanchard to serve the rest of Smith’s term. With Blanchard passing away earlier this month, Braxton will now rule in his stead. The mayor votes only on items that need a tie-breaker from the board.
“It’s kind of an odd joke, but I do feel like with the passing of two mayors, I feel like Liz Taylor’s eight husbands,” Braxton said.
Braxton will serve until November, as voters will cast ballots on a new mayor to serve out the remaining two years of what was Smith’s stint. The seat then will be back on track for voters to decide on a mayor every four years.
Topsail Beach’s charter indicates when someone leaves the board in the middle of a term, “the mayor and members of the board of commissioners shall be qualified electors of the town.” As required by law, the commissioners have 30 days to appoint members to both the mayoral and seat vacancies. Alternatively, they can vote with two-thirds agreement to extend the deadline.
Commissioner John Gunter said he didn’t want to wait, particularly considering upcoming budget workshops and other important planned meetings. He suggested voting on the mayoral appointment immediately.
“I’m here because Morton’s not and I think we ought to move with it tonight,” Braxton agreed.
Gunter made the motion, seconded by commissioner John Best, whose seat is also up this November, along with Zizack’s. Zizack asked if Braxton could cast a vote for himself as mayor, to which town attorney Steve Coggins confirmed. The commissioners voted by paper, also opposed by Zizack, who abstained from the mayoral vote.
Rob Grossman — chairman of Topsail’s board of adjustment and an attorney — called from the audience Tuesday that Gunter didn’t have the right to vote, claiming he wasn’t a resident. Grossman was asked by Braxton to refrain from interrupting the meeting and speaking out of turn, else be ejected for breaking rules of procedure.
Grossman had addressed the board at the top of the meeting during public comment, asking to be considered for mayor. He also pleaded his case last fall when Smith passed away, saying he understands budgets and handling conflicts.
Resident Nancy Thomason responded during public comment that losing two mayors in less than a year was “unprecedented.”
“It’s rocked residents, I think it’s rocked town staff and it’s certainly, I’m sure, rocked the board,” Thomason said, suggesting it was better to go with someone up to snuff on the town events already and who has served on the board.
“You know nothing about me,” Grossman snapped back from the audience.
“Please, Mr. Grossman, you will be removed,” staff indicated.
“We need stability right now in the interim, it’s nothing against your credentials,” Thomason responded to Grossman.
The mayor pro tem position also had to be filled since Braxton took over as mayor. Zizack made a motion to nominate commissioners Gunter, Best and himself (Joe Bell was absent, out of town) and a second motion to vote via paper ballot. It passed 3-0.
The final votes landed two for Zizack and one for Gunter, with Zizack becoming mayor pro tem.
To fill the remaining seat, the board agreed in another vote that applications for commissioner will open and be due on March 21, followed by an interview period; the commissioners will vote on the applicants at the March 31 meeting.
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