School board Chairperson Arthur Griffin said late Tuesday that if Puckett resigns immediately, the search for a replacement will begin right away. Puckett, however, said Wednesday he won't resign until the day before his Dec. 4 swearing in, when he'll begin a two-year commissioner term.
State law prohibits individuals from holding two or more elected offices at the same time.
On the commissioners' board, he'll represent the same region as he does on the school board - District 1, which runs from Steele Creek in the west to Lake Norman and the UNC Charlotte area in the north. There could be any number of decisions made between now and then, and I certainly want to be involved in them. I want to make sure my constituents are well-served with their point of view in the debate. Under state statute, school board members are allowed to select Puckett's replacement. That person's term will expire in 2001.