Halifax board elects chair
By John Peters
Editor

After a 26-month deadline that left Halifax County Commissioners without a chairman, an agreement has been hammered out between two rivals for the seat.
Commissioners James Pierce and Gene Minton had each been nominated for the position, but the board deadlocked 3-3 every month over the past 26 months when trying to elect a chairman.
After the December meeting, Minton and Pierce worked out an agreement, and on Monday that agreement became public.
The pact called for Pierce to assume the chairmanship immediately and serve in the capacity until December. At that time, Minton would take over the spot for a year.
The commissioners unanimously approved the move, with Pierce now assuming the post of chairman and Minton taking the role of vice chairman.
Commissioner Rives “Judge” Manning, who made the motion to accept the plan, said it was a good solution, but the problem had not hindered the board thus far.
“The county commissioners were working very effectively without a chairman,” he said. “We had accomplished a whole lot, we had brought fiscal responsibility back to Halifax County, and we were doing a good job.
“The chairmanship was a big point of contention with some people, but not with the commissioners.”
He pointed out the fact that over the past two years, only two votes not related to the chairmanship had finished in a tie vote.
He went on to say that some in the media and with other groups had mischaracterized the deadlock.
As for either of the men serving as chairman, Manning said he believes the county will be served well by the arrangement.
“Both are very well qualified people. Either one, or both, are very well qualified to be chairman.”