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Residents urge Commissioner Matthews to resign from county board amid superintendent role
Summary
Multiple residents told the Harnett County Board of Commissioners that Commissioner Matthews should resign from the board to focus on his role as superintendent of schools; the remarks were framed as ethical requests rather than legal challenges.
Two residents raised ethical concerns about Commissioner Matthews holding both an elected county seat and the school superintendent position, saying the dual roles create divided attention and potential conflicts.
Jerry Rivas, a resident, said he believed Commissioner Matthews should resign because the superintendent role requires full-time attention. “If you're gonna be the superintendent of schools, you need to spend more time devoting your time to that job,” Rivas said, adding that he was speaking from his personal opinion and citing concerns about school performance metrics in 2023 and 2024.
Rebecca Brock also urged Matthews to step down, framing her request as an ethical appeal rather than a legal one. “I am asking that you step down from your position,” Brock said, noting that the county’s legal review had been provided and that her request was based on ethical considerations and the large constituencies both roles require.
Board members did not take immediate formal action on the remarks during the public comment period. The comments were made during public comment and were not accompanied by a formal complaint or vote; county staff had previously provided legal review of the situation, according to a public speaker and references during the meeting.
The statements reflect resident concerns about role clarity and public-service priorities rather than any board-determined violation or legal finding recorded during the meeting.
