One consequence of Lynn Harper’s decision to run for the City Council is that she is withdrawing from consideration for the vice chairmanship of the Henderson-Vance Economic Partnership.
Harper has a seat on the yet-to-form partnership board as one of two representatives of the Tourism Development Authority, and members of the steering committee recruited her for a leadership role. But under the proposed bylaws, a City Council member would be allowed to serve on the partnership board only as a city government representative. Harper therefore would have to surrender that board seat if she won election to the council.
Rather than risk having to resign as vice chairwoman after only a few months, Harper said, she’ll avoid the issue by declining any offers to seek the leadership post.
She said she’s sure the partnership can find a stronger candidate to assist the chairman-designate, real estate lawyer Bob Fleming, whom she called a “wonderful, thoughtful person who really cares for Vance County.”
Depending on how the municipal elections turn out, Harper could wind up as one of the City Council representatives on the partnership board. While Mayor Clem Seifert, one of the city voices on the economic board, is assured of re-election, the two council members on the board, John Wester and Bernard Alston, face contests to remain on the council.