Pendleton County Commission. Commission president Gene McConnell, left, and
Carl Hevener appointed Burgoyne as an interim commissioner at a special meeting
on April 12 at the Pendleton County Courthouse.
By Shawn Stinson
Carl Hevener and Gene McConnell talked, during a special commission meeting last
week, about the late Carole Hartman doing the work to have her successor ready to take
her place on the Pendleton County Commission.
Hartman, who died on April 4, spoke to Charlie Burgoyne about serving as her
replacement. Buygoyne, a member of the Pendleton County Board of Education, accepted
Hartman’s request and was sworn in during a special meeting on April 12 at the Pendleton
County Courthouse.
“When Carole realized she was going to have to resign, she made a
recommendation,” McConnell said. “We as commissioners are not legally bound to that
recommendation. However, we feel honored to do that. At this time, consistent with
Carole’s recommendation, I would like to enter Charles Burgoyne’s name for
consideration.”
Hevener seconded the motion and moments later, Burgoyne was sworn in as
commissioner.
McConnell added, “While it pains me to do this, I’m glad to have some finality to
it.”
“In true Carole fashion, we’re getting it done,” he said. “If there was something that
needed to be done, she reminded me of the comedian that used to have that statement ‘git r
done.’ That was Carole.”
Burgoyne said Hartman contacted him when she was in the hospital about serving as
her replacement. He compared the conversation with Hartman with the one he had with
school board member Sonny O’Neil prior to running for that seat.
“The comments Sonny made about the board and how they got along and what a
good board member Rick Gillespie was and all the stuff he did,” Burgoyne said. “And the
relationship with the board and Charles, he said it was a good situation. Carole when she
asked me, she said Gene and Carl and Elise (White) and Karen (Pitsenbarger) are easy to
get along with. She had a list of things they were working on.
“It was the same kind of comments about both organizations which I think is a
pretty good thing for Pendleton County. You don’t have the division.”
Burgoyne submitted his resignation letter from the school board to Charles Hedrick,
Pendleton County Schools superintendent. Members of the school board were expected to
formally approve Burgoyne’s resignation at the April 19 meeting.
Elise White, Pendleton County clerk, said the commissioners will pass a
proclamation in May announcing the seat will be placed on the ballot for the November
General Election for the winner of the election to serve the remaining two years of the
term. White added the members of the Democratic and Republican county committees will
have the opportunity to submit the name of the candidate from each party to appear on the
ballot. In addition, Aug. 1 is the deadline for no party candidates, according to White.
Burgoyne said he intends to seek the Democratic nomination to appear on the
General Election ballot to fill the unexpired term.
