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WINTON – The calendar will change to a new year in just a few weeks, but the leadership of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners will remain the same.

As is customary at the board’s first meeting each December, they nominate and then select their leadership for the next 12 months.

At this past Monday’s meeting, the board, on a motion from Ronald Gatling, unanimously selected Andre Lassiter to serve another year as its chair.

Lassiter, now in the middle of his second, four-year term on the board, was first appointed as the commission chair in December of 2022.

“I thank my fellow commissioners for having confidence in me to serve once again as chair,” Lassiter stated after the vote was taken. “I count it an honor amongst my peers to choose me.

“I thank this community for having confidence and trust in me as well,” he continued. “I ask that you keep me in prayer because I don’t take this responsibility lightly. You’re never off work, but I’m not successful without the men seated to my right and to my left. We’re a team. It’s not I, it’s we. Thank you all.”

Lassiter then open the floor for nominations for vice chair. Gatling nominated John Horton, who currently serves in that role, and the subsequent vote was 5-0 in favor.

“Thank you to my fellow board members,” said Horton, who on Monday began his third, four-year term. “I’ve served on various boards since the mid 1980s and I have never served on one that is any more committed to Hertford County than this board under the leadership of Andre Lassiter. I’m so proud to serve another year as the vice chair.”

Gatling and Commissioner Bill Mitchell were also sworn in Monday to new, four-term terms on the board after posting wins in the Nov. 5 General Election.

Lassiter is no stranger when it comes to serving in a leadership role. He has served on the Roanoke-Chowan Community College Board of Trustees for 14 years. During his tenure on that board he has served in several leadership positions, including board chair for four years, finance chair for four years, personnel chair for three years, and as a member of the board’s executive committee for 11 years. That high level of service earned Lassiter the 2022 ACCT Southern Regional Trustee Leadership Award at its annual congress in New York City. The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) annually recognizes the contributions of trustees who have exemplified outstanding leadership while serving on local community college boards.

Lassiter also serves on several state and community boards, including the Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Center Board, the Ahoskie Housing Authority Board, the Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s Foundation Board – where he currently serves as Chairman , the North Carolina Department of Transportation Peanut Belt State Board, the Ahoskie Planning and Zoning Board, and the Hertford County Partners for Progress Board. He also played an integral part in the establishment of Special Olympics in Hertford County.