LUMBERTON — Hubert Sealey’s political legacy could carry on after his death as his widow is vying for the open seat on the Robeson County Board of Commissioners that he once occupied.
Linda Sealey, 49, expressed interest Friday in filling the board’s District 2 seat. She said her husband of 28 years would have wanted it that way.
“I think he did a very good job and I could do the same,” she said. “I know what he wanted to do and I know what he wanted to see happen. I was around him enough to know the political process. I want to fulfill his dream of what he wanted to accomplish.”
Hubert Sealey, 53, who served on the county board for three terms, died Dec. 17 of a heart attack while trying to reclaim the District 2 seat. He lost the seat to Berlester Campbell in 2014 and was defeated by Campbell in the May 8 Democratic primary.
Campbell was unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election, but died on Sept. 28 and left the seat empty.
The Robeson County Democratic Party’s District 2 Executive Committee met Nov. 15 to select a replacement. Campbell’s widow, Pauline Campbell, was selected on a 26.5 to 23.5 vote. Sealey protested, claiming some of the selection procedures used were improper. His protest was upheld by the state Democratic Party, thus denying Pauline Campbell’s move into the commissioner position and providing opportunities for Linda Sealey and others to make a claim for the seat.
The county party has until Jan. 20 to redo the selection process.
Pauline Campbell has maintained her desire to fill the seat. Fairmont Commissioner Terry Evans has openly expressed interest in the seat.
Evans said it’s nice that the wives of the deceased politicians want to take on the position, but it’s not enough.
“I know the work that needs to be done in District 2,” he said. “District 2 is the poorest district there is, and I know the hurdles involved. Both are fine young ladies and their husbands were great leaders, but they don’t have the experience.”
Linda Sealey said her husband’s actions to stop the county’s selection process is the main reason she should be chosen to represent District 2.
“Two days before he died he went and filed a protest,” he said. “If anyone has a right to file for that position it should be me. I should be the one to fulfill his dream, if anybody does.”
She said others considering the same thing in District 2 are just taking advantage of her husband’s actions.
“Anyone could have filed a protest, paid for an attorney,” Sealey said. “Now everyone wants to ride on his coattails and take advantage of the work he’s done.”
She said the whole process, which led to her husband’s actions, would be one of the issues she would address if selected.
“I would like to see more fairness on that board (of commissioners),” Sealey said. “Everyone can see the unfairness on the board as far as the way they do things. They’re hiring practices for one. We have to look at qualifications and not hire because of who knows who.”
Sealey was born and raised in Robeson County and has a master’s degree in counseling. She has worked in Robeson County school district and at the Robeson County Department of Social Services.
She believes her husband would want her to pursue this.
“He always pushed me,” she said. “He always said I could do anything I wanted to do. We discussed things at home as far as politics and he valued my opinions on things.”
