The NC Board of Elections appointed a new member, David Brooks, to the Jackson County Board of Elections this week. A Republican seat has been vacant on the board since the end of May when Wes Hanemayer resigned. The change came as Hanemayer and another board member, Jay Pavey, alleged state pressure on the county’s early voting plan during a county meeting.
Brooks, a Jackson County resident who runs a building company, ran unsuccessfully for Jackson County Board of Commissioners in 2022. He previously served on the county’s planning board. He will be sworn in Tuesday, August 18 at 10 a.m. at Jackson County Board of Elections Office as part of the board’s regular meeting.
During the state meeting, the board also appointed two other county board members in Iredell and Rockingham counties. The board also officially approved a new board chair in Ashe County.
Local board chairs are appointed by the auditor’s office. Under state law, the other four local board members nominated by the county party are then appointed by the state board: two Democrats and two Republicans.
In the case of Ashe County, the state board designated the chair upon the recommendation of the state party.
Jackson County hot seat
Hanemayer’s departure was part of a larger conflict over the role of state leaders in local elections administration.
In a resignation letter obtained by the News & Observer, addressed to “Jay and Bill,” Hanemayer explained why he resigned.
“If third parties feel they can demand that I take a completely illogical path that means they are convinced they have control. With that being a clear conflict of conscience I choose not to be part of the JCBOE and submit to their control,” the letter said.
This letter differed from his official resignation to the Jackson Board of Elections Director Amanda Allen and Thompson, which simply read, “Please consider this as my official resignation from the JCBOE.”
Local Party Chair Justin Castle told NC Local in June that the Jackson County GOP has started the process to nominate someone to fill the seat vacated by Hanemayer.
Later in the month, texts from Jackson County BOE members shared with NC Local through a public records request showed Dallas Woodhouse, Board of Elections liaison for the state auditor’s office, messaged the board chair about the early voting plan. One of the messages stated, “don’t let them vote,” just before a June meeting.
In July, Woodhouse resigned from his position.
Twenty county boards, including Jackson County, approved early voting plans by vote that were not unanimous. These counties are set to appear before the state board on August 20 for final approval of all the early voting plans.
Here’s the link to watch the state board of election’s meetings online. The August 20 meeting has not yet been posted.
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