Fellow commissioners, former commissioners, Mayor John Byrne, former mayors, friends and relatives lauded Harris for his work as a board member, for his guidance as the town grew, his ability to listen and, at times, to forge compromise where others could not.
Mayor Byrne presented Harris with a plaque of appreciation for service and his official portrait that had hung, with others, on a wall outside the board meeting room.
Harris was first appointed to the board in 1987 to complete the unexpired term of the late William Freeman who resigned after being elected a Wake County representative to the General Assembly. Harris was reelected four times. This year he lost his seat to newcomer Jim Abernethy.
As Harris stepped down, Commissioner Cindy Sheldon, who is about to begin her second four-year term, thanked Harris for mentoring her as she learned about the workings of the board . “You taught me and you encouraged me to be myself,” she said. “You taught by example.”
“You never put yourself first,” she added. “You fight for what you think is right, and you are good at finding compromise where others cannot.”
Commissioner Jimmy Johnson, noting that he has only served with Harris for two years, said he thinks “Fuquay-Varina is a wonderful place to live because of what you and others have done.”
Commissioners Jeff Wells and Charlie Adcock were absent.
Town Planning Director Mike Sorensen, who had been designated to speak on behalf of the town staff, said to Harris, “I started to work here in 1990 and you came on board in 1987. We’ve been growing together. Sorensen described Harris as a person of integrity. “You have represented the town in a wonderful way,” he said. “Your fingerprints and footprints will remain on our town for years to come.”
Town Attorney Mark Cumalander said he has represented the town for 20-plus years and Harris has been on the board for about the same time period. “That makes you one of my oldest clients,” the attorney added. He recalled that he and the commissioner first knew each other when he was an assistant district attorney and Harris was a probation officer.
“We both found our way here (to town government),” he added. “Thank you for serving the town in such an excellent manner.”
Former board member and mayors, Bob Barker and Gene Truelove, were present for the retirement along with the retiring commissioner’s family and others who have watched Harris’s career.
When Byrne offered an opportunity for anyone in the audience to speak, Harris’s grandson, Carson Gibbs, 11, walked to the front of the meeting room, and addressed the retiring commissioner: “Grandpa, you must have a lot of courage and a lot of power to help all the wonderful people of Fuquay-Varina,” he said.
After others had spoken, Harris said, “I consider myself the luckiest man in the world. I grew up here. I have seen the town grow. I have served with 17 commissioners, six mayors and four managers. I appreciate the opportunity I have had to know such great people and to serve this town.”
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