by Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
A 30-year employee of the county ABC system is the new chairwoman of the Rowan-Kannapolis Board.
Linda Lowman, who began her term on the board Saturday, got a quick promotion from the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Tina Hall, who has led the push to make the system more profitable, nominated Lowman to head the three-member board.
Hall noted that over the past few weeks she has seen some obstruction by board members and called it “very unfortunate.”
Hall said the focus of the ABC system must be greater profitability and urged support for new leadership.
Chairman Carl Ford, Vice Chairman Jon Barber and Commissioner Chad Mitchell joined Hall in voting for Lowman.
Commissioner Raymond Coltrain acknowledged there have been some issues but said the ABC Board is moving forward and on the right track. He nominated Marny Hendrick, who has served as chairman for the past several years.
Lowman, a former Cannon Mills employee who served as general manager for a decade or more, was in the audience.
Last month, commissioners chose Lowman to replace board member Gus Andrews, who had sought reappointment.
Lowman now heads the board that includes Hendrick, whose term expires July 31, 2010, and Ken Argo, whose term ends July31, 2011. Lowman’s three-year term expires July 31, 2012.
In her application for the ABC appointment, Lowman asked to be appointed chairman in order to be more effective.
In the letter, she also noted that the system has a long track record of profitability. “I believe the current system works, but it’s who is running it that makes the difference,” she wrote.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, two speakers called on commissioners to change leadership.
Larry Wright criticized the “credit card capers” of spending on meals and hotels. He also cited the ABC board’s original demand for payment in advance for copies of all records as a “blatant display of arrogance.”
“It’s inexcusable. We need new leadership,” he said.
John Burke urged the board to appoint Lowman chairwoman, citing her years of experience. He said the ABC system must be brought to the profitability level of similar size systems across the state.