News

State elections chief appoints new county elections director

Karen Hebb

By Bill Moss, Published: October 15, 2019

The second in command at the Henderson County Board of Elections has been named the county's new elections director.

Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Elections, appointed Assistant Elections Director Karen Hebb to the post on Tuesday after the Henderson County Board of Elections recommended Hebb last week. Hebb replaces Beverly Cunningham, who is retiring. The appointment was effective immediately.

Hebb has woked for the Elections Board for more than 25 years, Cunningham told the Board of Commissioners Wednesday morning. “I’m looking forward to being referred to as the former director," she said.

Bell notified Elections Board Chairman Charles Medd of her action via email on Tuesday afternoon, requested that the board provide the director's duties and responsibilities once those were adopted and reminded him of training and certification requirements set out in state law.

“We have selected a person but we don’t hire,” Medd told the Lightning before the appointment was finalized. “All we can do is nominate so the process is started with the state Board of Elections in Raleigh. We’re just waiting on us them to tell us whether they accept or not accept the nominee.”
A resident of Zirconia, Hebb is registered as unaffiliated voter.