There’s an obvious explanation as to why a Pembroke Town Council seat remains vacant six months after the death of the person who held it: The council members in charge of making the appointment to that seat are in no hurry to fill it, although they might be a bit more motivated after getting an earful from some residents on Monday night.
The longer the seat remains unfilled, the bigger the stick that each council member carries. Currently two councilmen, Allen Dial and Ryan Sampson, are calling the shots for the town, and if a fourth council member takes a seat, then that person’s vote would be required, or Mayor Milton Hunt would be holding the heaviest hand with the tie-breaker.
The vacant seat had been held by Robert Williamson, who was elected to the council in November. Williamson was active in civic affairs in Pembroke for the years leading up to his election, and had been a rock in the shoe of previous council members, never reluctant to be blunt in his critique of how they were doing the town’s work. He died shortly after being sworn in of an illness he had bravely fought for a long time — and didn’t get the opportunity to hold on for long to a part of the town’s steering wheel.
State law requires the sitting council members nominate a replacement, and then vote on that person, a task that certainly shouldn’t have taken six months. Perhaps the sitting council members were expecting that town residents would forget that the board was one person short, but the folks have been increasingly restless of late, and on Monday each of the commissioners nominated a person for the at-large seat. But none of the nominees won a second, so if any progress were made, we don’t what that is.
Some town residents argued for a special election, but state law doesn’t lean that way. An unsuccessful candidate for the council lobbied on Monday night that she be appointed, but hers was not among the names nominated.
We would expect that soon enough the mystery of who will hold the fourth council seat will be solved as it just can’t be that difficult for two council members to agree on a nominee.
But we might be expecting too much. After all, in October it will have been four years since the Pembroke ABC store closed, and there isn’t much reason to expect that hole will be plugged soon.
Slow seems to be the preferred speed by the Pembroke Town Council.
If sampson and dial are so buddy buddy, then why did they have different options for the new council member. If they are so close as you say they would have agreed to nominate the same person right?
I agree to let the people vote because the council members now were voted by the people. From what I see, Sampson has done a lot of positive. Starting with getting rid of salary for volunteer fire chief! Key word, volunteer!! Why was he getting paid in the first place. If you are still mad that the city employees did not get a raise you need to get over it. Raises should be based upon production, not just showing up to work.
From what I heard, all the council members had a choice for who they wanted. Larry had his own, Ryan had his choice and Dial had his choice. Why would you say Ryan and Dial are running things? Each Member has their own voice. Each member has a person they think is best for the job. Which person should give in? It doesnt matter because the robesonian will only print negative, negative, negative. Nothing is ever positive.
Umumgood,
You sound like a person who lost to Sampson in the election. Get over it.
No, I did not run; and I'm not just talking about the presentation of a council replacement. All issues that have been presented have been passed by Ryan and Dial because they buddy up and Mr. Brooks' one vote does not stand a chance! And if a person does get pass the three, I'm sure it will be one that Ryan and Dial decide on! So why not let the towns’ people vote and put someone in there that the people agree on with great numbers, not just those two!! Yeah your right with those two in there, Nothing is ever positive!!
tpsreport -- You sound like a person who likes supporting crooked politics!!