Testimonial for Lemmond, Quick Goodbye to Quiggle.
Nothing symbolized the transition of power within the Lee County Commission as much as Robert Reives' presentation of a plaque of appreciation to Jerry Lemmond, the outgoing commissioner he could always count on as a second sure vote for whatever he proposed. Reives was presenting the plaques in the absence of former chairman Bob Brown who did not attend the swearing in ceremony. With Lemmond's vote in his pocket, Reives had always started any issue knowing he had that othervote he could count on. Not only did he present the plaque, Reives gave a testimonial that sometimes had the tone of a eulogy to the outstanding job that Lemmond had done as a commissioner emphasizing that Lee County owed a great deal to the exceptional hard work and dedication of Jerry Lemmond. This was even more evident in the contrast as Reives then called John Quiggle to the front for his plaque. After reading the brief inscription on the plaque, it was obvious that Reives had given no thought of what to say to a commissioner who had on several occasions brought out the intimidating snide remarks with which Reives can so quickly turn on an adversary. There were a few mumbled words about Quiggle's willingness to take the job and fulfill its duties.
Picture Courtesy Of Brook Wolf Sanford Herald Oddly, it was Reives who was most responsible for Quiggle's being selected to fill the vacancy created by the sudden resignation of Republican Commissioner Kirk Smith. Reives, with the help of Jamie Kelly, devised a very clever maneuver to advance one of Reives' goals. Republicans had put up a fierce battle in May to get Kirk Smith appointed to the commission as the "official recommendation" of the Lee County GOP as replacement for Amy Stevens, a Republican county commissioner who resigned in February. Kirk Smith's tenure was short lived, though. In early December, after just six months on the board, Kirk Smith offered his own resignation, citing time constraints with his job. But meanwhile, in September 2007, the democrats on the commission learned that Richard Littiken had lost his recognition in May as local party chairman and the state GOP did not consider Lee County to have an organized Republican Party to exercise the party's statutory but non-binding recommendation of Kirk Smith. Littiken originally claimed it was just a matter of missing paperwork, but the truth finally emerged that he had simply ignored state party rules and not called the Lee County GOP convention to elect officers and qualify as a county organization recognized by the state party. When Reives and Kelly realized that Littiken still had not acted to correct the situation when Kirk Smith suddenly and unexpectedly resigned in December, they saw an opening to take advantage of the lack of a legally recognized Lee County GOP to fill Smith's vacancy without having any recommendation from the Republicans to complicate matters. But what they really wanted was another vacancy on the school board that would make room for Shawn Williams. Just a month earlier the board had selected Dr. Lynn Smith over Shawn Williams to replace Mary Ellen Axner but had let it be known that Williams was one of the top choices from among the small group of finalists for the position. It would be difficult for the school board to name anyone but Shawn Williams if another school board vacancy became open so soon. So Reives and Kelly targeted GOP school board member John Quiggle and convinced him to take the seat vacated by Kirk Smith, pointing out he would not need a Republican endorsement and argued that by joining the commission he could help improve already strained relations between the board of education and the commissioners. Other GOP party leaders with close contacts with the state party hurriedly organized a county convention on Saturday, January 5, that re-elected Littiken and a new Lee County Republican Executive Committee that was immediately recognized by the state. That Saturday night the committee nominated Harry Undy, a Carolina Trace resident and combat decorated former Marine, to fill Smith's seat. The last minute recommendation did not sway Kelly or the other democrat commissioners because the plan was in motion, and Quiggle was elected on January 7. The next night Quiggle resigned from the school board and Shawn Williams was then voted in unanimously by the school board on January 8. After electing Quiggle, he was largely ignored by the democrats because he had served his purpose and they had gone to work on bringing Shawn Williams around to their way of thinking. (See earlier post and comment)
Picture Courtesy Of Brook Wolf Sanford Herald Oddly, it was Reives who was most responsible for Quiggle's being selected to fill the vacancy created by the sudden resignation of Republican Commissioner Kirk Smith. Reives, with the help of Jamie Kelly, devised a very clever maneuver to advance one of Reives' goals. Republicans had put up a fierce battle in May to get Kirk Smith appointed to the commission as the "official recommendation" of the Lee County GOP as replacement for Amy Stevens, a Republican county commissioner who resigned in February. Kirk Smith's tenure was short lived, though. In early December, after just six months on the board, Kirk Smith offered his own resignation, citing time constraints with his job. But meanwhile, in September 2007, the democrats on the commission learned that Richard Littiken had lost his recognition in May as local party chairman and the state GOP did not consider Lee County to have an organized Republican Party to exercise the party's statutory but non-binding recommendation of Kirk Smith. Littiken originally claimed it was just a matter of missing paperwork, but the truth finally emerged that he had simply ignored state party rules and not called the Lee County GOP convention to elect officers and qualify as a county organization recognized by the state party. When Reives and Kelly realized that Littiken still had not acted to correct the situation when Kirk Smith suddenly and unexpectedly resigned in December, they saw an opening to take advantage of the lack of a legally recognized Lee County GOP to fill Smith's vacancy without having any recommendation from the Republicans to complicate matters. But what they really wanted was another vacancy on the school board that would make room for Shawn Williams. Just a month earlier the board had selected Dr. Lynn Smith over Shawn Williams to replace Mary Ellen Axner but had let it be known that Williams was one of the top choices from among the small group of finalists for the position. It would be difficult for the school board to name anyone but Shawn Williams if another school board vacancy became open so soon. So Reives and Kelly targeted GOP school board member John Quiggle and convinced him to take the seat vacated by Kirk Smith, pointing out he would not need a Republican endorsement and argued that by joining the commission he could help improve already strained relations between the board of education and the commissioners. Other GOP party leaders with close contacts with the state party hurriedly organized a county convention on Saturday, January 5, that re-elected Littiken and a new Lee County Republican Executive Committee that was immediately recognized by the state. That Saturday night the committee nominated Harry Undy, a Carolina Trace resident and combat decorated former Marine, to fill Smith's seat. The last minute recommendation did not sway Kelly or the other democrat commissioners because the plan was in motion, and Quiggle was elected on January 7. The next night Quiggle resigned from the school board and Shawn Williams was then voted in unanimously by the school board on January 8. After electing Quiggle, he was largely ignored by the democrats because he had served his purpose and they had gone to work on bringing Shawn Williams around to their way of thinking. (See earlier post and comment) 
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