The members of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to fill the seat of former Commissioner George Graham with a well-regarded resident of Graham’s former district.
Roland Best II, who was nominated in late December by the members of the executive committee of the Lenoir County Democratic Party, was unanimously approved by the commissioners Monday.
“Roland is very articulate, and he’s a very knowledgeable person and I think he’s going to be a tremendous asset to our board and I’m very glad he’s in place,” said Commissioner Reuben Davis, chairman of the board.
Best, the first vice chairman of the Lenoir County Democrats, spent 24 years as a Kinston police officer, and is retired from the Dobbs Youth Development Center.
Commissioner Jackie Brown, vice chairwoman of the board, said Best had “very, very high integrity,” and was “just an outstanding individual, a well-respected citizen.”
Brown, who said she had known Best nearly her whole life, said he had also been active in the local Democratic Party, taking on tasks such as coordinating transportation to bring voters to the polls.
Best will fill Graham’s District 5 seat — which serves northeastern Kinston and northeastern Lenoir County — through 2014.
Graham resigned his seat on the Board of Commissioners after winning the District 12 seat in the N.C. House. He ran for the seat after long-serving Rep. William Wainwright passed away last July.
Best said Monday he felt “real energized” about his new position.
“I’m just looking forward to being a servant to the citizens of Lenoir County,” he said.
David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.
