Jacobs named commission chairman

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The face of the Columbus County Board of Commissioners changed Monday night, with not only the welcome of two new board members but also the election of a new chairman.

In a 5-2 decision, Commissioner Sammie Jacobs was elected chairman and James Prevatte vice chairman. Only newly elected commissioners Ricky Bullard and Ronald Gore were opposed to the nomination made by Commissioner Amon McKenzie.

Bullard’s nomination to elect James Prevatte chairman and Bill Memory, vice chairman was defeated in a 4-3 vote, with Bullard, Prevatte, and Gore voting “yes”. Commissioners McKenzie, Memory, Lynwood Norris, and Sammie Jacobs voted “no.”

“This is a position I didn’t seek,” Jacobs said. “I’m very humbled that my colleagues chose me.

“I said many years ago –14 years ago – that I’d serve four years and get back to my business,” Jacobs explained. “I haven’t gotten back to my business yet.”

He pointed out that his daughter once told him ‘regardless of what people say about you, I know you are going to do the best with the knowledge that you have’.

“(We could be doing something) much more profitable, but we chose to be public servants,” Jacobs said. “I appreciate all of you who came tonight. We intend to do the best we can as a board here.”