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Rockingham County appoints Billy Parker interim sheriff; board sets interim pay
Summary
Rockingham County commissioners on July 20 unanimously appointed Billy Parker as interim sheriff effective Aug. 3 and later voted to set interim annual pay at $119,003.46. The appointment followed a party committee recommendation and a statutory requirement read into the record.
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners voted July 20 to appoint Billy Parker as interim sheriff, effective Aug. 3, 2026 at 8 a.m., after Sheriff Page rendered his resignation effective July 31.
County manager Lance Messler told the board the county executive committee of the sheriff's political party had recommended Parker for the vacancy. Claude Turner read the controlling statute (recorded in the meeting as "162-5.1"), saying the statute requires the board to appoint the recommended person if the party submits a recommendation within 30 days. "That means there's no discretion. You have no choice. It has to be done," Turner said.
A commissioner moved to appoint Parker to fill the unexpired term, naming the effective date in the motion; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The chair offered brief remarks acknowledging public concerns about fairness given the upcoming election and that the action followed the state statutory process.
After a closed session, the board returned to set interim compensation. Commissioner Hall moved that Parker be paid $119,003.46 annually for the interim period; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The motion record notes the board treated the interim pay as lower than permanent elected pay but left open the possibility of future adjustment if Parker were later elected to a full term.
The appointments and salary vote were recorded on the public meeting minutes; no other formal objections or alternative nominees were recorded during the public meeting.
