Pitt County commissioners elect Mark Smith as chair, reject proposed rotation for leadership

The Pitt County Board of Commissioners held its December 1 meeting and, following nominations and electronic balloting, elected Commissioner Mark Smith as chair and Commissioner Angie Holliman as vice chair.

The county attorney opened nominations and explained the voting procedure, noting that balloting proceeds in reverse order of nominations and that each commissioner has one vote per round. Commissioners nominated Anne Floyd Huggins, Mark Smith and Mary Perkins Williams for chair. After an initial round produced no majority, one nominee withdrew and a subsequent vote produced a majority for Smith. The attorney announced, “The yays have it. Congratulations, commissioner Smith.”

Why it matters: the chair and vice chair set meeting tone and manage procedural flow for the coming year. The election followed the board’s formal rules and an electronic roll-call procedure that commissioners discussed during voting.

During the same session, the board considered two proposed amendments to its rules of procedure: a clarification to consent-agenda practice and a proposed rotation schedule for the chair and vice chair based on seniority. The consent-agenda clarification — which would make clear that any objection removes an item from consent without requiring a separate motion to remove — was moved, seconded and approved.

The rotation proposal prompted a prolonged exchange. One commissioner who introduced the idea framed it as an effort "to preserve equity and opportunities for service" and to reduce partisanship in leadership selection. Another commissioner, speaking for District C, said the change would remove an important way that voters’ preferences are expressed at the dais, arguing, "The voters put me here to be their voice, and that voice is expressed through my vote." Following discussion, a motion "not to approve" the rotation amendment was made, seconded and passed.

Other formal actions tied to the agenda included approval of individual surety bonds for officers required by statute, the removal of a consent item from the agenda after an upset bid was received on a county property (that matter was set to return Dec. 15), and adoption of the proposed 2026 meeting calendar.

What’s next: The board scheduled the property item for Dec. 15 to allow re-advertising and to complete the statutory upset-bid process. Commissioners also entered a closed session later in the meeting to consult with the county attorney under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3).