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Board of Elections seeks dedicated outreach specialist; commissioners debate full‑time position
Summary
Board of Elections staff asked commissioners to fund a full‑time outreach specialist to build year‑round voter education and engagement; commissioners questioned whether a part‑time or contingent approach would suffice and suggested postponing a permanent hire until newly appointed board members are seated.
HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. — County elections staff presented a proposal for a dedicated outreach specialist in the Board of Elections, arguing a full‑time position would sustain year‑round voter education, support poll‑worker recruitment and counter disinformation.
Claire (Board of Elections staff) told the commissioners that the office had absorbed outreach duties into administrative workloads and had used overtime and part‑time pay ($36,000 last year) to meet demand. She described a full‑time position at salary grade 18 (roughly $41,000 for a part‑time equivalent; full‑time total cost later estimated by finance staff) and said the role would provide continuous contact for voters, build relationships with schools and libraries, run nonpartisan outreach and assist in succession planning for the elections office.
Several commissioners supported stronger outreach but raised concerns about year‑round workload and permanence. One commissioner asked, "Tell me what that person is gonna be doing when there is not an election year," citing the cyclical nature of election work. Claire and other staff replied that off‑cycle months are precisely when the office can do deeper outreach to libraries, veterans, colleges and underserved parts of western Harnett County.
Commissioner Jaggers proposed postponing a final decision until newly appointed or incoming board members are seated so the newly constituted elections board can review organizational needs; other commissioners expressed agreement. County finance staff provided cost scenarios: a full‑time position (including benefits) would bring total compensation to about $68,000; a 29‑hour part‑time position (with retirement and 401(k)) would be about $41,000; a 20‑hour part‑time position would be roughly $25,500 including equipment. The board did not adopt the position at this meeting; members asked staff to continue discussions with the incoming board and to return with options.
The board also discussed geographic outreach needs: staff emphasized limited outreach resources in unincorporated western parts of the county where there are fewer town festivals and local media, and flagged college, veterans and assisted‑living outreach as priorities if the position is approved.
