Experience Should Have Been a Major Qualification in Hiring an Edgecombe County Board of Elections Director by Curmilus Dancy II – The Political Agitator

I am not pleased with the hiring of the new board of elections director Rev. Jerry Spruell in Edgecombe County however it is not about the man himself. I read in the local newspaper a couple of days ago that he has received a 10.8% raise after only being on the job for 3 months. I have a problem with this because he had no previous experience and also he has not been in office during a major election such as the upcoming election.  I am voicing my opinion because I have attended the board of elections meetings along with other meetings faithfully since the 1990’s. It is personal for me when appointments to boards are not filled with people who I feel are qualified.

I have known Rev. Jerry Spruell since the 90’s and I supported him when he was elected Edgecombe County Commissioner. I am sure he will learn the job however I feel this board made a bad decision in hiring an inexperienced person.

I feel this board made a bad decision when they did not hire Tracy Winfield who is a certified II clerk and she worked closely with the former Director Gayle Hudson who resigned to go back into the school system. Now maybe there was a good reason for not hiring her. I am familiar with the workings of the Edgecombe County Board of Elections office not only with my dealings with Tracy but the others as well. I was familiar with the female before Tracy and when Tracy was hired several years ago she came in and did a wonderful job until she moved to another department in the same building.

I read in the local newspaper that the Nash County Board of Elections opened their hiring process for a new director externally but they had begun the process in-house. They stated they felt they wanted someone who is more experienced than those who had applied. I say this was very smart because with all that is going on around the voting process, there should be no room for error due to not having experienced persons in the board of elections office especially the director.

I will continue to attend the Edgecombe County Board of Elections meetings monthly so that I can be well informed about the election process. I will support this board when I agree with them however I will voice my opinion when I disagree with them as well.  

See related links:

Tuesday, January 15, 2008: Tarboro NC - A 10.8% raise