It was a moment of recognition in Kannapolis as the city council honored two of its longstanding officials for their dedicated service. Mayor Darrell Hinnant and Council Member Tom Kincaid received accolades during a reception, acknowledging their combined decades of commitment to the local community. Mayor Hinnant has been a fixture in Kannapolis government for 24 years, starting his journey in 2001 as a Council Member, and subsequently being elected as Mayor in 2013, making history as the longest-serving Mayor for the city.
At the reception, Mayor Hinnant expressed, "One of the greatest honors of my life to serve the citizens of Kannapolis for 24 years and one of the joys of my life has been to work with City Manager Mike Legg and a staff that is filled with commitment, passion and love for our community." His tenure has been marked by numerous public service roles that included leading various state and local organizations such as the Metro Mayors Coalition, Centralina Council of Governments, and the CK Rider Transit Authority, among others.
Recognized by Governor James Martin with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest public service award, Mayor Hinnant's career has spanned executive roles in national companies and as the Executive Director of the N.C. Hazard Waste Commission. His dedication to education is evident in his past teaching responsibilities for wastewater treatment classes for the state.
Council Member Kincaid has also been a vital part of Kannapolis' government for the past 15 years. He relayed to the audience how a nudge from former Mayor Ray Moss led him down the path of public service. "I never thought I would become involved in government, but Mayor Ray Moss encouraged me to serve years ago, and it has been the best experience of my life. Even though we are a diverse city council we had one common goal – to restore Kannapolis’ economy and revitalize downtown," Kincaid said. His contributions extend beyond the council chambers; his resume includes a tenure in the U.S. Air Force, work at the VA hospital, and volunteer work with the Cabarrus Health Alliance and the Red Cross.
