Kearney appointed to Ward 1 ward seat


Former Vance County Board of Elections Chair James C. Kearney, Jr. was appointed to the Henderson City Council with a six vote majority during Monday’s regular monthly meeting of the Henderson City Council.

All seven regularly elected members of the council were present at yesterday’s meeting. The only council member to vote for another candidate was Brenda Peace-Jenkins, who cast her vote for 2009 mayoral hopeful Juanita Somerville.

Kearney resigned from the Board of Elections in February with an effective date of March 1, 2011.

Other applicants who received no votes from the council were Iris Dethmers, Glean Henderson, Jr., Dorothy Hinton, and Lucille Quinitchette-Williams.

All candidates were self-appointed through applications submitted for the position. They were interviewed in a public meeting by the council on March 1, 2011.

Before the vote was taken, the council first approved a method for taking the vote. After the process was approved, a ballot was distributed to each of the sitting members, who signed the ballot and voted for one of the six candidates. The ballots are part of the public record and will be included in the minutes of the meeting.

Kearney will serve until the next election of the Henderson City Council. It is unclear when that election may take place. Under normal circumstances, it would be held in October of this year; however, the council is considering an ordinance to delay elections for one year.