WINDSOR – Thirty-four days following the death of J. Jasper Bazemore, Bertie County political officials will gather to hopefully recommend an individual to fill Bazemore’s vacant seat on the Board of Commissioners.

The Executive Committee of the Bertie County Democratic Party has announced they will gather at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 in the Bertie County Courtroom for the purpose of discussing Bazemore’s replacement.

At their Dec. 4 meeting, the Bertie Commissioners approved a measure that called for County Manager Zee Lamb to send a letter to the Bertie County Democratic Party, calling for that entity to forward a recommendation to the commissioners within 30 days.

It was at that same meeting where Bazemore, reelected in November to serve another four-year term, was scheduled to receive his oath of office. He had faithfully served Bertie County for 12 years prior to his death on Nov. 15.

The person recommended by the county’s Democratic Party must be a qualified registered Democrat (as was Bazemore) and live within the boundaries of Bazemore’s district n the Snakebite and Indian Woods voting precincts.

Upon receiving the recommendation, the four seated Bertie County Commissioners can accept or reject the name of the Democratic Party’s proposed replacement. If they reject the recommendation, the commissioners can themselves appoint an individual, pending they meet the aforementioned criteria.

The next scheduled meeting of the Bertie Board of Commissioners is Jan. 8, 2007. However, the board can decide to convene in a special called meeting prior to that date in order to discuss the Democratic Party’s recommendation.

According to State Statute 153A-27, the approved appointee will serve only two years of Bazemore’s new four-year term. At the next election cycle (2008), a filing period will be declared open for Snakebite/Indian Woods district seat on the board of commissioners. The winner of the ensuing election will serve out the remaining two years (until 2010) of the term.