THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 6, 1994 TAG: 9412060369
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Cattle rancher Ernie Bowden of Carova was named chairman of the Currituck County Board of Commissioners Monday night.
Bowden, who wears western clothes and for years has been fighting to protect his herd from federal regulations governing the Outer Banks, is serving his third term on the commission. He was elected unanimously after being nominated by the only other holdover member on the five-man panel, Gene Gregory of Shawboro.
Bowden is one of the board's more colorful characters, frequently interjecting comical comments that produce chuckles among commissioners and citizens.
Bowden has been a strong supporter of Currituck youth and has continually pushed for more recreational programs and sites to prevent juvenile delinquency.
He first became a commissioner in the 1970s and has been elected three times, though never consecutively. His current term expires in 1996.
Eldon Miller Jr. of Moyock was unanimously elected vice chairman. He is one of three new members on the board.
Miller is a retired shipyard worker who wants to ensure adequate funding for school construction and more recreational programs for both children and adults.
Miller also wants to make sure the county has an adequate water supply to meet growing residential demands. This is his first time as a commissioner.
He was sworn in with J. Owen Etheridge and S. Paul O'Neal, the other new members, with their families and friends looking on.
Etheridge, 43, most recently was chairman of the Currituck Planning Board, where he served the past eight years. This is his first time as commissioner.
During his campaign, the Shawboro financial planner vowed to provide greater access to county meetings and planned to hold town meetings throughout the county periodically.
Like everyone running for office this fall, Etheridge stressed the need to control residential growth in Currituck County and promote more commercial development.
O'Neal, 31, is a lifelong Currituck resident and the first Republican in recent memory to be elected to the board.
O'Neal's campaign platform this fall stressed more openness and honesty from the county's elected officials, who have been sharply criticized in the past for keeping mum on some key issues.
A manager at an insurance company in Elizabeth City, O'Neal also wants to televise county board meetings to keep citizens better informed. He resides in Waterlily. by CNB