LUMBERTON — A Robeson County Board of Elections member says that the recent addition of an American Indian to the staff does not further racial diversity of the current staff. Her complaint, however, is falling on deaf ears.
Steve Stone, chairman of the three-member board, and member Daniel Locklear, both Republicans, said Tuesday that there is no basis for an allegation by Tiffany Peguise-Powers, the board’s lone Democrat, that the board erred in the procedure it used to fill the vacant position of an “administrative support technician.”
Peguise-Powers, who is black, argues that the board should have hired a qualified black candidate to make the five-member full-time elections staff more diversified. The board currently has no full-time black employees.
“The Board of Elections is a county office and should reflect diversity,” Peguise-Powers said. “I am very disappointed that in this county office there is not one African American working. When someone walks through the office door they should see an office that reflects the diversity of Robeson County.”
Peguise-Powers also questioned the board’s decision to hire Daniell Strickland, an American Indian, because she is the daughter of Dinah Jo Locklear, a longtime BOE employee.
According to G.L. Pridgen, the elections director, although Strickland will occasionally assist her mother, he is Strickland’s supervisor. He added that the Board of Elections does not have a policy on nepotism, and County Manager Ricky Harris previously told The Robesonian the local government does not either.
Stone said the Board of Elections, although an autonomous board, uses the county’s Human Resources Department to place job advertisements and screen applicants before they are sent to Board of Elections.
Stone said there were 45 eligible applications received for the job and all applications were reviewed by each BOE member. Each board member then chose a single candidate they wanted interviewed for the job, he said.
Stone said in addition to Strickland, there was one black candidate and another American Indian interviewed for the position that Stone says pays an annual salary of $25,000.
“I was impressed by her interview and the interview process was intense,” Stone said. “She impressed me with her confidence and her ability to stand on her feet under pressure. She knew a lot about the process of the Board of Elections and showed a desire to work for the board long term. She sold herself with her knowledge of the board and her desires to work for the Board of Elections.
“I was looking for someone that can be cross-trained to do the job of everyone. She appears to have the ability to do different things and handle different specific jobs”
Stone said that Strickland had worked part time for the Board of Elections several years ago. He said she has continued to assist precinct workers during elections.
“It’s her education and experience that makes her the right person for the job at this time,” Stone said. “… My job as chairman is to bring the board and staff together and make sure we have the most competent team to provide for elections, and we have it.”
Locklear shared that opinion.
“I looked over everything in the applications and it took me a long time to decide,” he said. “But if you look at our needs for the upcoming election cycle, we had a candidate with prior experience and college degree. I think we made the right choice.”
Peguise-Powers acknowledged that she has nothing against Strickland personally and that she believes she will do a good job. She told The Robesonian, however, that it is “important that the the people of Robeson County understand that at this time the Board of Elections does not represent the diversity of the county.”
Stone said that the decision to hire Strickland is final.
“There is no looking back,” he said. “We are moving forward.”
