HAMLET – Jesse McQueen sat down on the city council dais on Tuesday night, but not for long.
The man who had worked for the city of Hamlet for 30 years, McQueen, said goodbye to the place he had lived and worked for so long.
The candidate who used to be a police officer had to quit the council because he moved out of the city.
As per N.C. General Statute 160A-59, an elected council member’s job is automatically vacant when he or she stops living in the area they were elected to represent.
He and his wife moved to a house in the Rockingham area, which McQueen said had “a little more privacy” and was “a whole lot quieter.”
“I just want to thank everyone in town who has helped me over the years,” McQueen said.
His service to the Seaboard City began in late 1991, when he was 21 years old and joined the Hamlet Police Department.
McQueen was first elected to the Hamlet City Council in 2005 and served for one term. He returned to the board when he was elected again in 2013 and has been re-elected every time since, for a total of 14 years and 10 months.
What McQueen said, “I’m very proud of what I’ve done.” “This is my home…” I had a great time helping people in Hamlet.
McQueen went on, “Some of my best times and some of my worst times have been in this town.” “This is one of the best times ever as I walk out the door tonight.”
In the years he’s worked with other councilmembers, McQueen said he’s had some great relationships and some not-so-great ones. He also said that some of them have “healed and got back on track.”
McQueen said, “I’ve learned that you can’t please everyone; you’ll just make a lot of people mad.” But if you do what your heart tells you to do and do it in a way that makes you feel like you’re doing the right thing, then everything works out.
McQueen then thanked the other council members (except Maurice Stuart, who wasn’t there), the other city leaders, and Pat Preslar, a former councilman who was in the crowd. He then made a suggestion that he might stay in politics.
McQueen said, “I love Hamlet, I will always think of Hamlet as my home.” “When I run for my next office, I hope to continue to look out for Hamlet.”
Then, each current council member said a few words about McQueen’s service and exit. Mayor Amy Guinn then gave McQueen a plaque and the key to the city.
The council now has to find someone to fill McQueen’s place, which will be open again in 2025.
To fill out the rest of the term, anyone interested should send a letter to the mayor by October 31. At the November meeting, the board will make a selection.