Duplin's Fussell to resign
By Aaron Moore
Published in News on June 27, 2011 1:46 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County Commissioner David Fussell will resign June 30 due to illness, County Manager Mike Aldridge said Thursday.
Fussell has been absent from commissioners' meetings since early March, and has been suffering bouts of illness ever since he was bitten by a tick on a trip to South America, Aldridge said.
"He's usually on top of the world and acts like he doesn't have a care in the world," Aldridge said, adding that he is getting reports on his condition from Fussell's wife.
While Fussell has managed to keep in touch with this year's budget process, his absence from meetings has prevented him from giving input on major issues such as the county's 2-cent tax hike or potential budget cuts.
But with five other commissioners, Aldridge said he thinks the county has had adequate representation.
The next step, he said, is to find Fussell's replacement.
With about a year and a half left on Fussell's term, Duplin County Democratic Party leaders will have to find a new candidate to recommend to the rest of the board.
"I know the political wheels are already rolling," Aldridge said.
He said the other commissioners will vote on the Democrats' recommendation, and whomever they choose will finish Fussell's term, which ends in December 2012.
Democratic Party Chairman Mott Blair did not return calls about who potential candidates might be.