China Grove looks to fill vacancy created by Seaford’s win

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 10, 2019

CHINA GROVE — With two years left on Mayor-Elect Charles Seaford’s term on the China Grove Town Council, the board will need to appoint someone to fill the seat.

“The current board will make that determination,” said Town Manager Ken Deal. “They will get together, hold a discussion and make a decision at the December or January meeting.”

He said the new council member will be sworn in at either the December or January meeting, too, and would “start right then and there.”

Seaford, who was elected to a four-year term in 2015, beat current Mayor Lee Withers Tuesday with 242 votes to Withers’ 203. When Seaford is sworn in at the town council’s December meeting, he will vacate his town council seat.

Seaford has served two and a half terms as a councilman and has been serving since 2009.

Council members are looking at several unnamed people, Deal said. Hopefully, a decision will be made soon, he said.

Deal said any China Grove resident interested in filling the seat should notify the council “as soon as possible.”

He specifically suggested submitting an application to the town or calling any of the current board members in the “next week or two” to be considered.

“Of course, we would like to find someone who is progressive-thinking and forward-thinking, and someone who would help in the betterment of the town,” Deal said. “We would also love someone who is involved in the community and someone who is striving for the town’s overall economic development growth.”

China Grove Town Hall is located at 333 N. Main St. Its phone number is 704-857-2466.