Cumberland County’s former district attorney says he would like to serve on the N.C. Board of Transportation.
Ed Grannis, the county’s top prosecutor from 1975 until his retirement in December, confirmed Monday his interest in the politically appointed board that approves highway construction contracts and helps sets transportation priorities.
Fayetteville’s current representative on the board, Gary Ciccone, said he wants to step down as soon as his replacement is chosen so he can devote more time to his businesses. He is waiting on Gov. Bev Perdue to make the appointment.
“I know that she is working on it,” Ciccone said. “It’s a slow process.”
Ciccone is a partner in the commercial real estate brokerage firm of Nimocks, Ciccone & Townsend. He owns Ciccone Development LLC and is the board chairman of New Century Bancorp, which is based in Dunn.
Perdue’s spokeswoman, Chris Mackey, said the governor has not decided yet who will replace Ciccone. But Perdue intends in the next few weeks to compile a list of nominees to fill 10 slots on the board, including Ciccone’s seat, Mackey said. Some of the positions include reappointing board members to second four-year terms.
According to sources familiar with the appointment process, Grannis is considered a leading contender to replace Ciccone. Both men are Democrats, as is Perdue.
Transportation Board members aren’t paid, but they receive travel and lodging reimbursements and a $15 per diem when conducting board business.
Grannis declined to comment about any potential appointment, but he acknowledged his interest in serving. Road issues are a growing concern, he said.
“It’s pretty clear to all of us that this community is going through a profound transformation through Fort Bragg, and that process has made it clear to everyone how important the road system is to the community,” Grannis said.
During his brief tenure, Ciccone helped secure the Transportation Board’s commitment in December to keep funding the expansion of Fayetteville’s Outer Loop – the future Interstate 295 – along the Fayetteville-Fort Bragg border. Officials say the loop is needed to ease congestion around Fort Bragg.
In February, the N.C. Board of Transportation approved a $55 million contract to build the loop’s next segment, from Murchison Road to Ramsey Street.
Ciccone represents Division 6, which comprises Bladen, Cumberland, Columbus, Harnett and Robeson counties. He was appointed in November 2009 to fill the unexpired term of Mac Campbell of Elizabethtown, who resigned in April 2009.
Ciccone said he has enjoyed serving but told Perdue in December he couldn’t commit to a four-year term. The term he was tapped to fill expired in January, he said, but he has continued to serve.
The governor is required by state law to submit the nominees to state lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee to receive feedback for 30 days. Afterward, Perdue makes the appointments.
Perdue’s spokeswoman said the governor would submit the list of names to the committee “over the next few weeks.”
Published: 06:42 AM, Tue Apr 26, 2011
By Andrew Barksdale
Staff writer
