SALISBURY — Jake Alexander III said he was “honored and flattered” to hear Gov. Pat McCrory had appointed him to the state’s Board of Transportation.

And then Alexander hung up on McCrory.

“The governor called me two weeks ago and offered me the position as the Division 9 board member,” Alexander said. “He said, ‘How about the DOT board,’ and I moved the phone from one ear to the other and hung up on him.”

Alexander joins nine others appointed to the 19-member DOT board. The appointments were announced Monday.

Alexander served as the N.C. DOT deputy secretary for Gov. Jim Martin in the late ’80s.

His father, the late Jacob A. Alexander Jr., served as the state secretary of transportation during the administration of Gov. James Holshouser Jr.

Rowan County has notched a number of political appointments since Gov. McCrory, a Catawba alumni, was elected in November.

Former Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz, businessman Greg Alcorn, retired vice president of Duke Energy Services Tony Almeida and former N.C. Rep. Fred Steen have also received McCrory appointments.

“It’s good for the state that they’re there and it’s good for Salisbury and Rowan County,” Alexander said.

McCrory has been outspoken on several transportation issues since his election and Alexander said he values the governor’s positions on funding and growth in the state.

“It’s going to be an exciting time, I think,” he said.

Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.