Regents name Shelton to vacant board seat

The Clarendon College Board of Regents appointed James Shelton to fill a vacant position on the board during a called meeting last Friday, July 24.

The appointment puts Shelton in the seat formerly held by Lon Adams, who resigned earlier this month with two years left on his term.
Shelton had filed to run for the board in February for this year’s election, which was originally scheduled for May but was rescheduled for November because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are now still five candidates running for three positions on the board – Regents Darlene Spier and Carey Wann are running for re-election, and the seat vacated by Dr. Bill Sansing in November is also open. Guy Ellis, Debbie Thompson, and Chris Matthews are also running for the board.

Regents also took up consideration of the position of vice chairman of the board, which had been held by Adams.

At the board’s regular meeting July 16, regents had moved to name Edwin Campbell to that position, but Campbell reminded the board a possible conflict of interest issue with his brother-in-law working for the company that manages the college’s investments.

President Tex Buckhaults said the college’s attorney as well as the college’s accrediting agency said Campbell’s familial relationship would not prevent him from serving as vice chairman; however, both agreed that he could not serve as chairman.

Since the only job of the vice chairman is to serve as the chair when the chair is absent, the board agreed to appoint a different member to that position. Regents then approved Wann as the vice chairman of the board.

In other college business, the board approved a bid from Yates Flooring to replace carpet in the president’s house.

The board also discussed tree trimming and removal but took no action at this time on the advice of the president.