JACKSON – Few things changed here Monday morning.

While the Northampton County Commissioners did welcome a new member, the rest of the slate stayed the same.

Chester J. Deloatch Sr. (a Democrat representing the county; 3rd District) was welcomed as the newest commissioner and took the oath of office alongside returning commissioners Robert V. Carter (D-2nd) and Fannie P. Greene (D-5th).

Following the three commissioners who were elected in November taking their respective oaths of office, the board turned meeting over to County Attorney Charles Vaughan for the election of their own officers.

Vaughan called for nominations for a chairman of the board and Commissioner James Hester (D-1st) made a motion to keep the officers as they are. Greene offered a second.

The board then voted unanimously to return Virginia D. Spruill (D-2nd) as chair of the board and Carter as vice chairman.

Following her return to the chair’s post, Spruill called for a motion to appoint other officers. Carter moved to appoint Vaughan as County Attorney, Kay Flythe as Clerk to the Board and Kimberly Turner as Assistant Clerk to the Board. That motion, seconded by Hester, passed without objection.

During the comment portion of the agenda, each of the elected officers made comments about their selection.

“Again, I want to thank the citizens for their confidence they’ve placed in me,” Greene said. “I’ve worked hard in my first term and I can assure you I will work just as hard now.”

Carter said he was also thankful for being reelected.

“Thank you to the citizens of Northampton County for allowing me to return to the board for my third term,” he said. “As a member of this board, all the decisions I make have the citizens of the county at heart.”

Carter also said he was available to citizens who were not comfortable speaking before the entire board and would relay their concerns to the appropriate places.

Deloatch said he was also pleased to be taking a seat on the board.

“I want to thank all the citizens for the confidence they’ve placed in me,” Deloatch said. “I hope I will do a good job for you.”

Hester congratulated the three commissioners elected in November and said he was looking forward to working with them. He also thanked Spruill for her leadership as chair of the board.

Spruill then said she was appreciative of the support she received from her fellow board members.

“I would like to thank the board for the vote of confidence in voting for me to continue as chair for another term,” she said. “I look forward to working with Mr. Deloatch. We need everyone’s support to move forward.”

County Manager Wayne Jenkins expressed his appreciation to the board for serving the past year and said he was looking forward to a successful year in 2007.

Vaughan also thanked the board for his reappointment as county attorney and said he appreciated working with the commissioners and with Jenkins, who he said is “one of the finest county managers in North Carolina.”