Union County names new commissioner after board member’s resignation
MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Union County has a new commissioner after a longtime leader resigned last month.
Joining the Board of Commissioners is Clancy Baucom, who was introduced at the end of Monday night’s meeting. Baucom is replacing Richard Helms, who resigned last month due to health reasons.
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Helms was a member of the Union County government for nearly 12 years, after first being elected in 2012. He was one of the dissenting votes to remove fluoride from the county’s water treatment plant in his second-to-last meeting.
“It is with great sadness and reluctance that I resign effective tonight,” Helms said during the Feb. 19 commissioners’ meeting. “I want to thank the voters who entrusted me to serve you and most importantly, thank you to my wife for supporting me during this process.”
Helms noted his resignation came at the advice of his physician and cardiac specialists.
Following Helms’ announcement, Chairman J.R. Rowell said in part, “I just want to thank you for your service to the county. I appreciate all you’ve done on this board and all you’ve done for this county.”
Baucom is the president and general manager for Arbor Fields, a plant nursery north of Marshville. His term will be up for election in November.
This is the second county commissioner replaced outside of elections in the last year. Last August, Commissioner and Board Chair Stony Rushing died following an ongoing battle with health issues.
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