Last night, the Wake County Board of Commissioners held elections for its chair and vice-chair positions, a yearly ritual that precedes the setting of the governmental agenda for the ensuing 12 months. Commissioner Matt Calabria was anointed as the board's chair while Commissioner Don Mial was appointed to fill the vice chair's shoes.
These appointments were preceded by the ceremonial swearing-in of new and returning officials, including Commissioners Susan Evans, Shinica Thomas, and Tara Waters, along with Register of Deeds Tammy Brunner and Soil and Water District Supervisors Thomas Dean and Reese Wamsley. In a statement obtained by wake.gov, Chair Calabria expressed his gratitude saying, "I’m grateful that my fellow commissioners trust me to lead this team of dedicated public servants over the next year." He spoke of advancing the county's strategic goals, with a focus on affordable housing, public safety, and the expansion of public spaces that impact residents positively.
Calabria, who was originally elected to the board in 2014, previously served as chair beginning in December 2020, a tenure initiated amid the challenging landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. His portfolio includes heading the county’s Growth, Sustainability, and Economic Strength Committee, vice-chairing the Public Safety Committee, and contributing as a member of the Affordable Housing Committee.
Vice-chair Mial brings fresh perspectives, having joined the commission just two years ago in 2022. Not only does he lead the Public Safety Committee, he also doubles as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. Mial's extended duties include acting as a liaison to Wake County’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and Local Emergency Planning Committee. In an echo of his colleague's commitment to community welfare, Mial told wake.gov, "I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the needs of our growing population." He emphasizes Wake County's allure for education, career opportunities and family life, underscoring the objective to "maintain that high quality of life for residents now and decades to come."
