SALISBURY — The State Board of Elections has tabbed Cleveland resident Elaine Hewitt to serve as the third member of the local elections board.
Hewitt was appointed last week to take the place of former seatholder John Steele.
Hewitt is expected to join former board members John Hudson, a Democrat, and Jonnette Powell, a Republican.
The trio will be sworn in later this month.
Hewitt was one of three local Republicans submitted for the seat, which came open after Gov. Pat McCrory took office.
As is custom in North Carolina, the sitting governor’s party holds a majority seat on the state and all county elections boards.
Rowan County Board of Elections Director Nancy Evans said she received an email last week from the state board indicating an appointment had been made.
Evans said the group is expected to be sworn in on July 22 at 12:45 p.m., with an elections board meeting immediately following.
“When they are sworn then they will organize and elect a chairman and a secretary,” Evans said.
Elections board members serve two-year terms.
Hewitt was not immediately available for comment Thursday.