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| Cookie Pope |
Pope is Johnston board head
Smithfield legal assistant Cookie Pope has become the first woman to head the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. The board unanimously elected Pope, 63, as its chairwoman Monday. She succeeds James H. Langdon, who won a seat in the General Assembly in November. Commissioners chose Wade Stewart, 60, president of Keener Lumber Co., as vice chairman.
Pope said the most important issues facing the board are education, public safety and economic development. "Growth brings change," Pope said. "We just have to be ready for these changes as they come and hold on." She called for the board to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and hold a brief prayer to begin its meeting -- practices not observed under the previous leadership. She said she would like to foster a lighter atmosphere at board meetings. "I want to send a message to the citizens of Johnston County that local government is friendly," she said.
Pope is a long-time resident of the Cleveland area and the board's longest serving member. Her 1994 election remains one of the most memorable upsets in county history. She unseated 36-year incumbent Frank Holding in an election marked by Republican successes in what was then a largely Democratic county.
By MARTI MCGUIRE, Staff Writer for the News & Observer
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