By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — In brief and low-key swearing-in ceremony that defied the expanded affairs of early Monday for Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons Jr. and Clerk of Court Vickie Daniel, Herb Long was added as the seventh member of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Herb Long makes it official by signing the document from Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel.
Long joined incumbents Don Bryant, Ben Moss and Thad Ussery, all of whom stood before Daniel to take the oath of office.
Bryant was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 4 general election with 6,817 votes. Moss was second with 6,746, followed by Long (6,490) and incumbent Ussery (6,337). Challengers Donnie Richardson was fifth, and the first on the outside looking in, with 5,589 votes with Peggy Covington was sixth with 5,382 votes.
The four men join Kenneth Robinette, Jimmy Capps and John Garner. Robinette was subsequently re-elected by his colleagues as board chairman while Garner won a second term as vice chair.
There were no speeches or words of encouragement other than Robinette’s opening of the 5:30 p.m. meeting with congratulatory words for Bryant, Moss and Ussery and words of welcome for Long.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Commissioner Herb Long, Commissioner Thad Ussery, Commissioner Don Bryant and Commissioner Ben Moss take their oaths of office from Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel Monday evening before the board’s regular 5:30 p.m. meeting.
Each of the four commissioners did take a moment to pose with family members in front of the commissioners’ desk prior to the start of the regularly scheduled public meeting.
