BY MIKE FUHRMAN

Members of the Gene Houpe Fan Club will be watching closely on Monday morning when the Iredell County Board of Commissioners meets to select the board chair and vice chair for the upcoming year.

A large contingent of Houpe supporters — outnumbered only by frustrated youth baseball parents — turned out in force for the commissioners’ last board meeting.

Their purpose? To lobby the commissioners to choose Houpe as the next board chair.

Houpe, Commissioner Scottie Brown and current Chair Melissa Neader, all of whom were re-elected in the November 5 election, will be sworn into office during a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the Iredell County Government Center.

After the oaths are administered, commissioners will select a chair and vice chair.

If Mark Cash, Paula Mimnaugh and other Houpe supporters have their way, Houpe will be the next chair.

During the public comment period at the commissioners’ November 19 meeting, Houpe’s supporters pointed to the fact that he received the most votes among the five candidates for the three seats on the November ballot.

Houpe, who is the longest-serving board member, garnered 61,991 votes, Neader was second with 60,808 votes, and B\own finished third with 57,169 votes. As a result, Houpe and Neader won four-year terms; Brown won a two-year term.

Cash, identified as the president of the Iredell Republican Men’s Club on the group’s Facebook page, cited the board’s tradition of selecting the top-vote getter to be the next chairman – as well as Houpe’s status as the senior board member – in making his case to the board.

“I ask that y’all consider listening to the will of the people,” Cash said. “Don’t overlook what the voters said. Don’t overlook his experience. Give him a chance.”

Mimnaugh, who has made a name for herself by reading sexually explicit material at local school board meetings as part of her campaign to have books she finds offensive removed from area schools, also expressed her support for Houpe, calling him a dependable worker who cares about people.

Terry Gentle, a Statesville resident and regular speaker at commissioners’ meetings, told the board that the voters had made their choice for chairman — Houpe.

“I just think y’all really need to sit back and do the will of the people,” he said. “We’re getting ready to start making changes.”

Mooresville resident Mary Rotondo told commissioners that Republican voters had spoken — and they clearly wanted Houpe as chair.

“It is your obligation as our representatives to follow the choices made by the voters of this county,” she said.

Houpe, speaking after the public comment period, said he appreciated the support of voters – and the individuals who spoke on his behalf at the meeting. If selected as chair or vice chair, he said he would serve.

Commissioners, Houpe said, should consider the tradition of prior boards when selecting their leadership.

“We work for you,” he told the audience. “We should listen to you.”

Not a Foregone Conclusion

While it’s undeniable that Houpe received the most votes in the November 5 election, there is no clear board policy that confers the chairmanship and vice chairmanship to the top vote-getters in the general election.

Those leadership positions are selected by motions made by the commissioners.

During the past 32 years, it has not been a foregone conclusion that the top vote-getter would be chosen to serve as board chair.

Here are a few instances when that did not happen:

♦ In 2022, Brad Stroud was the top vote-getter. Melissa Neader was elected chair.
♦ In 2020, Melissa Neader was the top vote-getter. James Mallory was chosen as chair.
♦ In 2016, Thomas Bowles was the top vote-getter. James Mallory was selected chair,
♦ In 2012, Ken Robertson was the top-vote getter. Steve Johnson was elected chair.
♦ In 2008, Ken Robertson was the top vote-getter. Godfrey Williams was elected chair.
♦ In 2000, Karen Ray received the most votes. Sara Haire Tice was selected as chair.
♦ In 1996, Alice Fortner was the top vote-getter. Sara Haire was elected chair.
♦ In 1992, David Boone was the top vote-getter. Sara Haire was selected as chair.