The Wake County Board of Commissioners has elected a new chair and vice chair. Sig Hutchinson now serves as chair for the second time during his tenure on the board, while Shinica Thomas is assuming her first leadership role on the commission as vice chair.

“I’m honored that my fellow board members allowed me to lead this dedicated team into the new year,” said Chair Hutchinson. “I look forward to continuing our focus on affordable housing, food security and social determinants of health, while growing our transit network and expanding our parks, greenways and open space.

Chair Hutchinson was first elected to the board in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2020. He is a champion of efforts to support good health and wellbeing, which include helping create the Live Well Wake initiative, preserving green space countywide and implementing the Wake Transit plan. His term ends in December 2022.

Vice Chair Shinica Thomas was elected to her inaugural term on the board in 2020. Over the past year, she led the charge to institute the Crown Act for county employees while presiding as chair of the Great Government Committee, which worked to make strides on broadband access, community outreach and engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

“We have a committed board and a talented staff who collaborate seamlessly every day to serve our 1.1 million residents,” said Vice Chair Thomas. “As vice chair, I’m proud to lead our efforts to support our most vulnerable residents, so everyone can enjoy the high quality of life Wake County offers.”

Thomas’s term as vice chair ends in December 2022.

Photos of Chair Hutchinson and Vice Chair Thomas are available on the Wake County Commission webpage.