Today's election of a new chairman for the Wake County board of commissioners makes last week's election of a new school board chairman boring by comparison.

After being deadlocked for more than an hour, the Republicans took advantage of a potty break by Betty Lou Ward to elect Tony Gurley as the new chairman. The Republicans hailed the election while the Democrats cried foul.

Democrats hold a 4-3 edge among the commissioners. But outgoing chairman Harold Webb has missed several meetings, including today's affair, because of a stroke.

UPDATE

The vote that elected Gurley came after dozens of procedural votes in which the Republican refused to move past the election to other matters or to hold a recess.

Changed to reflect that Gurley's election was a 4-2 because Ward's absence was considered a vote for him.

You can watch the meeting live online as they hold yet another vote on picking Ward or Paul Coble to be vice chair by clicking on this page.

A midnight motion to recess the meeting until 10 a.m. Wednesday failed on a 3-3 vote with Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no.

It's approaching 1 a.m. and Norwalk has given out his cell phone number for people to talk with him during the 2 1/2 minutes between votes. Former Commissioner Phil Jeffreys was the first caller. Then Norwalk got a call from WTVD and proceeded to give an in meeting interview.

The commissioners voted 5-1 at 2:15 a.m. to adjourn the meeting until 10 a.m Wednesday after Norwalk cited health issues because he hadn't had his insulin shot tonight.

Gurley, who initially suggested getting insulin delivered from an all-night pharmacy, was the lone no vote. He said he voted no because Norwalk did not agree to skip Wednesday's meeting in case Webb attends.

Click here for Tuesday's updated online story.