•Roland replaces Stanley on board.

by NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

While the Columbus County Board of Elections was welcoming a new member to the board last week they were also bidding one farewell.

Margaret Ward Roland of Whiteville took the Republican seat on the board, a position held for 16 years by Tabor City attorney Frank Stanley.

After members took their oaths, administered by Clerk of Court Shelia Pridgen, the board held a brief organizational meeting.

Jessie Graham was reappointed chairman and Leo Mercer was reappointed secretary by unanimous vote of the three-member board.

“We welcome her (Roland) aboard but will miss long-time member for the Republican party, Frank Stanley,” Graham said. “His replacement has some big shoes to fill.”

Graham added that Stanley’s legal expertise was an asset to the board. “I don’t know how we could ever continue without being in touch with him.”

“The people of Columbus County owe him a debt of gratitude – he was fair and honest with everyone,” Mercer said. “At times we may not have had the people agree with us, but Frank, I’m going to miss you.”

Stanley recalled the days of being on his “hands and knees” with the late Bobby Sessions deciphering precinct and district lines. “It has been a great time,” Stanley said.

He pointed out the election process has come a long way from ballot with chads (raised indentations) to laptops to be used at the polls for reporting purposes next year.

“If you’re blind, can’t hear or can’t read and write, you can vote today,” Stanley said, adding that all polling places are not handicap accessible.

“This is Margaret’s day,” Stanley said. “It has been a great pleasure to serve. I have learned so much about our election process but as you know, all three members serve at the pleasure of our parties and I wish Margaret the best.”

“When you get on this board you don’t take sides with either party; you make decisions according to what the law says,” Mercer said.

Roland said she intends to be fair and do what is right. “I’ll do the best I can,” she said. “I’ve got a lot to learn.”

Roland, 72, comes to the board having served as a precinct chairman in Asheville (her residence for 50 years) where she worked in accounting and her husband for the postal service.

Roland is proud to call herself a Columbus County native, having grown up in the Williams Township area. She moved back to Columbus County to live on her grandfather’s farm off of U.S. 701, on Price Road, in the Lebanon community where she resides with her husband, J.M. Roland. The couple has a son and daughter and five grandchildren.