Don Davis to resign as Snow Hill mayor
By Staff Reports
Published in News on December 4, 2008 1:46 PM
Snow Hill Mayor Don Davis announced Tuesday that he will step down from his post on Monday as he prepares to take his seat as the District 5 state senator in January.
Davis, a Democrat, defeated Republican state Rep. Louis Pate in November, earning the opportunity to replace retiring state Sen. John Kerr, D-Wayne, after his 22 years of service.
In a letter to addressed to Snow Hill residents, Davis thanked them for the opportunity to serve as mayor.
"I'm extremely grateful that you have entrusted me to serve as your mayor," he wrote. "Together, we have made Snow Hill a much better community."
Davis was first elected mayor in 2001, defeating incumbent Ben Rayford. He was re-elected in 2005.
He is forced to resign, however, because the state Constitution prohibits elected officials from holding two offices simultaneously.
He will be replaced by Mayor Pro Tem Lorrine Burney-Washington, who has served on the Board of Commissioners since 2001.
Ms. Washington was the only applicant for the position and as such, will be nominated by the board.
She will serve out the rest of Davis' term, which will expire in December 2009, and is the town's first female mayor.
State Senate District 5 includes portions of Wayne, Greene and Pitt counties.