Wayne County commissioners appoint Joseph DeMarco to at‑large seat after multi‑round ballot

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners selected Joseph DeMarco to fill the at‑large vacancy left by the late Commissioner Aycock after a multi‑round ballot on Jan. 6, 2026. The final vote was 4–2 in favor of DeMarco, who will serve until the newly elected official is sworn in on Dec. 7, 2026; the board offered the option of swearing him in at a special meeting on Jan. 13.

DeMarco, who told commissioners he would "fill his shoes and do a wonderful job," emphasized experience on hospital and education boards and said hospital negotiations will be a major near‑term priority. The interview phase began when the board opened candidate remarks and staff verified eligibility after the Dec. 22 cutoff; staff had confirmed five eligible applicants and explained that one applicant (Melvin Tapp) was not registered in Wayne County at the application cutoff and therefore ineligible for consideration.

Balloting followed rules the board adopted at the start of the process: ballots are signed public records. The first round produced no majority; the board held an intermediate round limited to the three lowest‑vote candidates to identify a second finalist. That second round produced two finalists, DeMarco and Freeman Hardison. A subsequent ballot after a brief lunch recess produced a 4–2 vote in favor of DeMarco.

Freeman Hardison, one of the finalists, told the board earlier that he came forward to "come in, do the job, get the heck out," arguing the county needed experienced, short‑term stewardship through upcoming budget and hospital matters. Chair Joe Daugherty outlined the next procedural steps: the clerk will record ballots as public records and DeMarco may be sworn in at a special meeting if he chooses.

The board's balloting process requires a majority of commissioners present; with six members a majority is four votes. The clerk will maintain the signed ballots in the board record until minutes are approved.