Barely into a new year, the Sampson County Board of Commissioners made a little history Monday night as two women took their seats as the acting county manager and county attorney.

It is something that is never believed to have happened in this county’s government, which has also not elected a female commissioner. Susan Holder and Annette Chancy took their interim managerial and legal posts, respectively, during the board’s regular meeting last night.

Holder has served the county for 19 years, with the last 10 as the assistant county manager. Chancy is a licensed attorney who works for the Law Offices of Daughtry, Woodard, Lawrence and Starling.

Their appointments came in the wake of a hectic December, during which the board met four times, three of those coming in a one-week span, from Dec. 21-28, to specifically discuss personnel. Holder has previously acknowledged her appointment, having been in attendance at each of those meetings, including at the last where she was appointed to the interim post. For Chancy, last night’s meeting was her first with the board.

Holder formally introduced her to the board. Chancy, who did he undergraduate studies at N.C. State and earned her Juris Doctorate from Campbell University, is a county native having grown up in Newton Grove.

“Our firm is pleased to represent the county in this interim capacity,” said Chancy. “We will fill the job as long as we’re needed and look forward to working with the board.”

While the county manager and attorney positions are filled for the time-being, commissioners discussed Monday advertising for the county manager and elections director positions. Advertisements have been run in all local media outlets and posted online with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and the N.C. League of Municipalities for each position, according to Holder.

Additionally, the board voted to hold a public hearing, of sorts, which Holder termed a “listening session.” It will be used to gauge qualities the general public wishes to see in their next county manager.

“This hearing is taking into account the board’s wishes to keep the process as transparent and as public as possible,” said Holder.

Commissioner John Blanton said the board “has nothing to lose” by holding such a session.

“This person is going to be serving the county,” said Blanton.

The session was scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 19 in the Sampson County Auditorium.

Holder said the county is currently advertising for its manager and elections board director openings. A tentative deadline of Jan. 29 has been set to accept applications for county manager. Commissioners would then review manager candidates and conduct interviews.

Holder has said the county would likely have a new manager “no earlier than mid-March.”

A deadline of Jan. 15 has been set to accept applications for the elections director position. Current director Sylvia Thornton will be retiring at the end of January and the Board of Elections is charged with finding her replacement.

“Mrs. Thornton’s last day is at the end of the month,” said Holder. “I’m sure they are anxious to have that filled.”

Along with the elections board position and filling the county manager and attorney seats on a more permanent basis, the county just said good-bye to its longtime Emergency Management director Ray Honrine and lost several key positions within the Recreation Department.

The county board met in closed session once again to discuss personnel matters following its meeting Monday night, specifically regarding Emergency Management. No action was anticipated.

One of the many new faces in new places, Raymond Spell was officially introduced to county commissioners as the county’s interim recreation director on Monday, his first day in that capacity.

Spell said he is looking forward to serving the county. A 1995 graduate of Campbell, Spell attested he has “been involved in sports ever since I was able to walk.”

His part-time contract extends until the end of February, during which time the county board is expected to evaluate the department and find a more “cost-effective” way of providing recreation services to county residents.

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.