Cabarrus County Commissioner Larry Pittman is resigning from the Board of Commissioners as he prepares to leave the county, cutting short his four year term. He took office on Dec. 2, 2024, alongside Board Chair Laura Lindsey, after being elected the previous month. His resignation cuts short a term that was set to run through November 2028.
Pittman announced the decision on Monday night, saying his resignation will take effect Sept. 30, the same day he and his wife plan to complete their move to Pamlico County. He told fellow commissioners during a closed session after Monday’s regular board meeting and submitted a formal resignation letter to County Manager John Eller.
Past Comments Have Drawn Scrutiny
Pittman’s time in public office was controversial. Most recently, in June, Pittman cast the lone dissenting vote against the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners’ Juneteenth proclamation, which passed 4-1. Pittman argued that Juneteenth commemorates the wrong date for the end of slavery, contending that enslaved people were not fully freed until the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865. His comments, made during the June board meeting, drew pushback from residents in attendance and generated coverage from multiple regional media outlets.
That episode was not an isolated instance of national and local media attention during his time in the N.C. House, Pittman’s public comments drew coverage on several occasions, including a 2017 comparison of Abraham Lincoln to Adolf Hitler, a 2020 social media post criticizing Black Lives Matter protesters, and a 2017 bill he co-sponsored to repeal North Carolina’s ban on secession.
Readers interested in reviewing Pittman’s full legislative record and public statements can find his introduced bills and additional coverage below:
- Pittman’s introduced bills as an NC House member
- Larry Pittman — Wikipedia
- WBTV: Cabarrus lawmaker co-sponsors bill to repeal ban on secession (2017)
- CBS News: NC Legislator Compares Abraham Lincoln to Hitler (2017)
- NBC News: North Carolina Politician Under Fire for Comparing Lincoln to Hitler (2017)
- PolitiFact: NC Republican says many mass shooters “turn out to be communist Democrats” (2018)
- The News & Observer: Fact check on Lincoln/Lee comments (2020)
- WBTV: NC lawmaker blasts Black Lives Matter (2020)
- The Charlotte Observer: Group calls lawmaker’s post “inflammatory” (2020)
- The News & Observer: What to know about NC’s death penalty abortion bill (2022)
What Happens to Pittman’s Seat?
With Pittman’s resignation effective Sept. 30, the Board of Commissioners will now begin the process of filling his vacant seat.
Because Pittman is a Republican, North Carolina state law requires the board to formally adopt a resolution to consult with the Cabarrus County Republican Party’s Executive Committee before appointing a successor. Any replacement must belong to the same political party as the departing commissioner.
The committee has 30 days from the Sept. 30 vacancy, until 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, to recommend a replacement. Once the party submits its recommendation, state law requires commissioners to appoint that individual to serve the remainder of Pittman’s term, which runs through November 2028.
Following the appointment, the board chair and county manager will meet with the appointee to arrange the oath of office.
Notably, Chair Laura Lindsey serves on the Republican Party’s executive committee and has recused herself from voting on the party’s selection to avoid a conflict of interest.
Cabarrus County Republican Party Chairman Jim Quick said the party’s full executive committee will meet to establish a selection process, and that the party welcomes applications from any registered Republican interested in serving the remaining two years of Pittman’s term. Quick said the party will soon announce a transparent process, including applicant requirements and deadlines, to give interested individuals sufficient time to apply.
What Comes Next
With Pittman’s departure set for Sept. 30 and a firm 30-day deadline for the Republican Party’s recommendation, Cabarrus County residents can expect a new commissioner to be seated before the end of the year. Inform Cabarrus will continue to follow the appointment process and report on Pittman’s successor once named.
