Pender County seeks candidates for two fire commission vacancies

The July 14, 2025, Board of County Commissioners meeting in Pender County, North Carolina, focused on the appointment of candidates for two vacancies on the fire commission. The meeting began with a review of the open positions, which have been advertised and will remain open until filled. The terms for these positions are set from February 1, 2025, through January 1, 2028.

Five candidates were presented for consideration:

1. **Herbert Richardson**: A long-time resident of Rocky Point, Richardson has lived in Pender County for 76 years. He is a retired service manager from Bill Caron Ford and has significant experience in community service, having served as the chief of the Rocky Point Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years. He has also been involved with the planning board and the 2050 steering committee.

2. **Jenny Groford**: Residing in Berghall for three years, Groford is the owner of Ocean Breeze Accounting. She has no prior experience with emergency services or fire operations but believes her background as a small business owner can contribute to the upcoming merger discussions.

3. **Sherry Reeves**: A Hampstead resident for 14 years, Reeves has a background in healthcare IT, having worked as the director of IT applications at Novant Health. She has also held leadership roles in community fundraising efforts and believes her experience in business management and mergers will be beneficial to the fire departments.

4. **Timothy Jasper**: A Burgall resident for 45 years, Jasper currently works at Hood Container and has previous experience as an apparatus operator for the Burgall Fire Department. He has served as deputy chief and is a member of the King Solomon Lodge, bringing valuable knowledge to the fire commission.

5. **Ashley Morrison**: With 47 years in Willard, Morrison is a manufacturing supervisor at Alchemay Inc. and has experience as a captain in the Penderly Fire Department. They have also served on the Penderly Fire Department Board of Directors, providing a strong foundation for the role.

The meeting concluded with a call for further discussion on the candidates, as the board seeks to fill the two vacancies from the pool of five qualified applicants. The next steps will involve evaluating the candidates' qualifications and making a decision in the upcoming meetings.