By Virginia Bridges

Durham County commissioners appointed former board member Phil Cousin Monday night to fill Joe Bowser’s vacated seat.

Commissioner Chair Michael Page said before the 4-0 vote that from the start, he and others on the board wanted someone who could hit the ground running in the term that expires in December.

Page, who is running for re-election along with three other incumbents, also said commissioners didn’t want to influence the November election. "The consensus of this board is that we would move toward a commissioner that would leave the race totally open in the fall,” he said.

The vote also marks the second time commissioners ignored the Durham County Democratic Party’s recommendation to fill a vacated seat.

Former Durham Planning Commissioner Wendy Jacobs has registered a campaign committee with the Board of Elections, confirming expectations she would run for county commissioner.

"I have officially done that," Jacobs said Tuesday.

Planning Commission Chairwoman Jackie Brown said today she supports Wendy Jacobs for the county commissioner's seat left open by Becky Heron's retirement, but would be available herself "as a compromise."

Brown (right), a veteran political operative in Durham, was mentioned as a possible successor soon after Heron announced her resignation in June, with more than a year left on her term, in June.

Brown said at the time she did not want the job and said Friday, "I am not seeking a permanent position on the Board of County Commissioners.

"I would be a placeholder" until after the 2012 county election, she said, if the seat were offered and she accepted it.

The four remaining commissioners deadlocked 2-2 Monday between Jacobs, whom Heron had named as her choice for the seat, and Pam Karriker, a past City Council candidate and former member of the city's Capital Program Advisory Committee.

If they do not name a successor to serve out Heron's term by Sept. 29, Clerk of Court Archie Smith will make the appointment as he sees fit.

"It shouldn't go to the clerk of court," Brown said Friday, and it is the elected officials' responsibility to make the decision.

"I know I'm qualified for the job," Brown said. But, "I'm still supporting Wendy [Jacobs] and will be supporting her in 2012."

All five Board of Commissioners seats are up for election next year.
 

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

The decision on who will fill Becky Heron’s vacated seat remains unanswered after a tie vote among Durham County commissioners Monday.  

Chairman Michael Page and Brenda Howerton voted to appoint political newcomer and community volunteer Pamela Karriker.

Ellen Reckhow and Joe Bowser voted to appoint former planning commissioner and neighborhood activist Wendy Jacobs.

Bowser and Reckhow said the board was at an impasse and should forward the decision to Durham County Clerk of Superior Court Archie Smith, who will make the appointment if the board can’t. Smith could make his appointment, and the board could swear in the new member by the next commissioners' meeting Sept. 26, they argued.

Howerton said the commissioners should use all of the 60 days allowed to make a decision. Those 60 days run out at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Melvin Whitley, the Durham County Democratic Party's third vice president, said he would continue to lobby for  applicant Hampton Dellinger, who received the local party's recommendation.  

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

Retired Durham County Commissioner Becky Heron is putting her support behind Wendy Jacobs to finish heron's unexpired term.

“Really and truly I would like very much for Wendy to be in the seat that I was occupying,” Heron said.  “She would work just as hard as a county commissioner as she has in saving this land along New Hope Creek.”

Heron was referring to Jacobs' efforts as chair of the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group, which spearheaded and raised money to help local governments and other organizations buy a 42.8-acre tract at Erwin and Pickett roads from Duke University to prevent it from being developed.

Nine people have applied to replace Heron, who officially stepped down from her position of Aug. 1.  The other eight are Anita Daniels, Hampton Dellinger, Pamela Karriker, Tonya Kemble, Rickey Padgett, Jane Redoble, Jane Volland and William Wilson.  

Meanwhile, members of Durham County Democratic Party plans to meet tonight at White Rock Baptist Church to decide on its recommendation on who should take the seat.  The recommendation would be forwarded to the County Commissioners, who will ultimately make the decision.

Sign in begins at 6 p.m. and proceedings are expected to start at 6:30 p.m.  
While the general public can observe the proceedings, only state executive committee members, elected officials, precinct chairs or vice chairs can vote, said the party’s second vice Chairman Zack Hawkins.

Officials will consider the six candidates who have submitted formal applications to the party, and will also take nominations from the floor.