by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Just three days after Tuesday’s municipal election, Tryon commissioner Happy McLeod turned in her resignation.

McLeod resigned on Friday morning, Nov. 6 with her resignation effective immediately.

McLeod said there is no one reason why she resigned but the low voter turnout in Tryon’s election Tuesday played a major factor in her decision.

The resignation was submitted to current Tryon Mayor Jim Wright Friday morning.

Tryon Town Manager Joey Davis says it is the responsibility of the board of commissioners, “within a reasonable amount of time,” to appoint someone to fill the remainder of her term, which expires in 2017.

“That responsibility can be handled by the current board of commissioners, or they may choose to defer such a decision to the newly elected board when they assume office in December,” Davis said.

At the earliest, Tryon’s board of commissioners could make the new appointment at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The new board will be sworn into office at the town’s regular December meeting when newly elected mayor Alan Peoples will take office, along with newly elected commissioner Crys Armbrust and incumbent commissioner Roy Miller. Armbrust was the high getter in the election, sealing a four-year term. Miller was second, beating Doug Arbogast and incumbent commissioner George Baker. Peoples is a former Tryon Mayor who served for 12 years until Wright beat him in the 2013 election. Arbogast is a former Tryon commissioner, who served one four-year term from 2009-2013. Baker served a four-year term as commissioner, first being elected in 2011.

McLeod was first elected as a Tryon commissioner in 2013. She has recently worked to get a Tryon museum opened downtown. McLeod said it is no secret the museum is where her heart is. There have been over 150 visitors to Tryon’s museum since its opening on Sept. 26, McLeod said.