Staff report
Members of the Richmond County Democratic Party on Tuesday nominated county commission candidate Peggy Covington to replace Jimmy L. Maske on the board.
Maske resigned effective May 31 after 36 years on the commission. He cited declining health in his letter to the remaining board members. Maske’s four-year term expires on Dec. 31. On Tuesday during the party’s monthly meeting at the Richmond County Judicial Center, Herb Long was the only other individual nominated for the post.
Both Long and Covington are Democratic candidates on the November ballot for commissioner. Both have Rockingham addresses. Covington served as commissioner from 2008 to 2012 and placed fourth among five Democrats on the 2012 primary ballot with 2,896 vote — behind John Garner (4,264) and Kenneth Robinette (3,956), both of whom were re-elected to office that November, and Jimmy Caps (3,541).
There are six candidates vying for four open seats on the board of commissioners in November, including Covington, Long, Republican Donald Richardson, of Ellerbe, as well as three incumbents — Republican Ben Moss, of Hamlet, Democrat Don Bryant, of Hoffman and Democrat Thad Ussery, of Rockingham.
The Board of County Commissioners has 60 days to vote on the party’s recommendation. It’s expected members will do so at the board’s July meeting. If no nominee earns a majority vote from the board within 60 days of Maske’s May 31 resignation, the duty to appoint a temporary replacement would fall on the clerk of Superior Court, Vickie Daniel.