Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Jeff Phillips is leaving the board at the end of this year after serving for eight years.

This week, Phillips let it be known in a big way who he wants to take his seat, Republican candidate Troy Lawson, who’s previously served as the chairman of the Guilford County Republican Party.

Phillips represents District 5, which covers much of northern Greensboro, including the Irving Park and Kirkwood communities.

Lawson is facing Democrat Carly Cooke in the November election to see who gets the seat Phillips is vacating.

Phillips in a press release said, “After working alongside Troy over the past several years, I know he is the right choice to replace me on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. He has the experience to work through the many important issues that come before the Board and will make decisions that benefit all of Guilford County. As a fellow board member of Gate City Charter Academy in East Greensboro, I have witnessed his ability to collaborate with others, help build a school that exceeds the needs of our community, and is dedicated to supporting faculty and staff to ensure all of our students’ needs are met.”

In the 2020 primary earlier this year, Lawson, who was the first African-American chairman of the Guilford County Republican Party, squeaked by Cyndy Hayworth, Phillip’s friend and business associate who he had endorsed, to grab the Republican nomination for the seat.

Phillips had a lot of praise for Lawson this week. He said Lawson had many skills for “building a collaborative environment that is essential to getting things done in Guilford County,” and he added that, “All of these skills will serve him, the Board of Commissioners, and Guilford County well.”

Phillips concluded of Lawson, “He’s the right person, at the right time. I’m with him!“

Lawson has received other endorsements since his announcement and primary victory including Congressman Mark Walker and Civil Rights leader Clarence Henderson.