Commissioners’ leader won with Republican backing. What happens with GOP gone?

When the new Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners is sworn in on Dec. 3, the first question they’ll face is one that’s split the board contentiously the last two times around: Who will lead them?

Democrats swept all nine seats this month, unseating the three Republican incumbents. That means any dissension on the board over the chair position this time around will be strictly intra-party squabbling.

But with four new members, some commissioners said they’re hopeful the board will avoid a fractious start.

“I think it will be very different,” said Elaine Powell, the incoming commissioner for District 1. “We have four new people, fresh new energy. I expect positivity.”

It’s unclear who the board’s choice might be, though several commissioners said there’s already behind-the-scenes lobbying from potential chairs. Current chair Ella Scarborough, an at-large commissioner, couldn’t be reached to see if she will stand for the position again.

She was elected with support from the three Republican members who were just ousted, setting up tension with other Democrats on the board.

Vilma Leake, reelected to represent District 2, said she wouldn’t support Scarborough if she tried to get the chair again.

“We need to make sure we have a different leader than what we had previously,” she said. “We were elected as Democrats to that board, and she went with the Republicans so she could be chair. I knew nothing about it until that night.”

“She left me out all together,” Leake said. “I’m not angry at her, I’m just talking about what took place.”

Pat Cotham, another at-large commissioner and the top vote-getter, has also had strained relationships with fellow Democrats in the past. She nominated Scarborough for the position of chair in 2016.

Trevor Fuller, the third at-large commissioner, said he’s put his name forward. Fuller previously chaired the board before losing the post in 2016 to Scarborough.

“My goal is to be of service,” he said. “I’m not particularly lobbying or campaigning, but certainly am engaging in conversations about how we should (choose) our leadership.”

The board’s chair appoints members and chairs to each committee, can set the agenda and runs the board’s regular Tuesday meetings. The position is the most powerful in the nine-member group, which oversees more than 5,500 employees, sets the biggest share of property taxes and oversees local government functions ranging from social services to parks.

Some of the four new members say they’re open-minded.

“I’m looking for a fresh start. I haven’t ruled out anybody,” said Susan Harden, who defeated GOP incumbent Matthew Ridenhour in District 5.

Mark Jerrell, the newly elected commissioner from District 4, said, “Everyone is on the table right now.”

To understand the contention surrounding the chair’s position, it helps to know some history.

For decades, the board followed the tradition of naming the commissioner who got the most votes — always an at-large member — the chair. In 2014, however, Fuller was elevated to the chair, despite Cotham racking up 22,000 more votes and finishing in first place.

Two years later, Cotham was again the top vote-getter. This time, however, she nominated Scarborough for the chair. Cotham and Scarborough joined with the three Republican commissioners, Jim Puckett, Matthew Ridenhour and Bill James, and the five-member coalition elected Scarborough as chair. Puckett was picked to be vice-chair.

This time around, the Republicans who provided the swing votes for that coalition are all gone. And some of the newly elected members said they don’t feel bound by previous traditions that the chair should go to the top vote-getter or an at-large member.

“We have to consider every possibility,” said Powell, who said the No. 1 quality she wants is a leader who’s a “team-builder” and includes many voices. “It’s time to think of all the different options we have, and really focus on authentic leadership where everyone’s voice is respected.”

Harden agreed.

“I’m not going to be governed by the highest vote-getter or the at-large protocol,” she said. “I’m also interested in exploring the strengths of some of the new people on the board.”

This story was originally published November 16, 2018 at 11:47 AM.