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Col. Bingham pressed his case, saying that “what really bothers me is that we are losing talent that we really need. We need to put new blood on the board ... we cannot let friendship get in the way ... for out and out business talent, Bob Darby has it all over.”

“So,” Mr. Massie inquired, “’the more money you have made makes you more qualified?”

“No,” Col. Bingham replied, “but someone who commands that amount of money has talent, and that’s what we need.”

Mr. Estes retorted, “You called the Planning Commission, ‘self-serving.’ That’s hard language, and now you're whipsawing the board. That’s not a good move, Colonel.

“Everyone spoke highly of both candidates,” Mr. Estes said. “The board is caught in a dilemma with two highly qualified candidates.”

On Mr. Massie’s motion, the board appointed Mr. Anderson by a 3-1 vote, with Col. Bingham opposed.

Following the appointment, Mr. Darby congratulated Mr. Anderson and thanked the board for considering his candidacy. “It has been delightful to get to know you and a lot of other people in the county whom I didn’t know before.”

At a public hearing on March 23, about 10 people listened as Mr. Darby and Mr. Anderson told the board members of their interest in preserving the county, in improving the schools, and addressing the problems with the dumpster site in Scrabble.

“Is there any area where you differ?” one member of the audience asked.

“If we talk a while, I’m sure we could find something to argue about,” Mr. Anderson replied with a grin. "We both care about the county and have concern for it.”

Several residents told the board that Mr. Anderson is, “a good neighbor.” Marshall Burke called him “a fair and honest man.”

Joyce Abell, who lives across Route 622 from Mr. Anderson, noted that he has gone out of his wray to accommodate their organic farm