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Harnett County elections office seeks full‑time outreach specialist; commissioners postpone final decision
Summary
The county Board of Elections requested a full‑time outreach specialist to sustain year‑round voter education and outreach; staff and board members discussed cost and timing and commissioners asked that the newly seated board review the request before final action.
HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. — The Harnett County Board of Elections presented a request June 2 for a dedicated outreach specialist to sustain year‑round voter education, recruitment and public information; commissioners did not approve the position at the meeting and asked for the incoming elections board to review the request.
Claire, a Board of Elections staffer, told commissioners the office currently has no dedicated outreach specialist and that outreach duties have been absorbed by administrative staff and by board members. She said outreach work includes staffing community events, voter registration drives, poll‑worker recruitment, photo ID drives and school and library programming spread across the year.
Claire said the requested job is a salary grade 18 position with a base salary “a little over $41,000.” Lisa McFadden in county finance noted total cost including benefits for a full‑time employee would be higher — she said a full‑time position including benefits is about $68,000, while part‑time configurations would reduce the cost but also limit consistency and year‑round coverage.
Board of Elections member Bill McNutt told commissioners the office has done significant outreach in recent cycles and argued a permanent outreach position would reduce reliance on overtime and temporary staffing; McNutt described community presentations and attendance at local festivals as important to building voter confidence.
Some commissioners questioned the need for a full‑time position in non‑election years and asked what duties the outreach specialist would perform outside of heavy election periods. Claire and other elections staff said many outreach tasks occur in off years — voter education in schools, library programs, veterans and assisted‑living outreach — and that a full‑time position would support continuity, succession planning and quicker response when court rulings or legislative changes require immediate public guidance.
Commissioner McCoy and others suggested delaying final budget action until the newly seated Board of Elections members are in place so the incoming board can review the organizational structure and make recommendations. County staff said that approach is feasible and agreed to return with budget language and options. No formal vote was taken on creating the position at the June 2 meeting.
