As if Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston doesn’t have enough irons in the fire – between running his several businesses, running Guilford County, overseeing the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, helping put on a charity golf tournament and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade each year – Alston now has been dubbed with a new duty: being a member of NC Governor-Elect Josh Stein’s transition team.

In the Tuesday, November 5 election, Stein, a Democrat – and the state’s first Jewish governor – easily defeated his scandal-ridden Republican opponent Mark Robinson.

Alston, who for all intents and purposes is the one who ultimately calls the shots in Guilford County government, has been acquiring more and more statewide notoriety and power recently. Earlier this year, Alston got some additional statewide authority after current North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper appointed Alston to the NC Real Estate Commission.

That Commission garners a lot of influence since it’s a state agency that regulates and licenses real estate brokers and real estate firms across North Carolina – with a goal of making sure brokers are ethical actors – and that those who apply to become brokers are properly trained and qualified.

So, Alston will be busy during the holiday season since he’ll now have the added duties of aiding in the Stein’s transition on top of his other duties.

Still, the very busy Alston said he was very excited about the invitation.

“I will play a role in choosing people to serve on boards and committees” Alston said of his specific duties.

He said the Stein Administration is going to notify interested parties of openings on state boards and committees.

Alston is just one of several leaders from Guilford County serving on the transition team. Guilford County Commissioner Frankie Jones, Jr. will also be on the team, as will Sean Suggs, the president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and a member of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Board of Trustees.

 Dr. Charlene Green, a board-certified anesthesiologist, and Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump, will serve as well.

Time conflicts are already happening for Alston.

At 4:49 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7 during an important work session of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, Alston got up and walked out of the room because he had to be on a 5 p.m. conference call with Stein and other members of the transition team.

That was the “virtual kickoff call” held to share more information about the transition. Alston also had to miss the start of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners meeting which began at 5:30 p.m. that day.

Commissioner Carlvena Foster, the Board of Commissioners vice chair took over Alston’s duties that evening.

According to information from the Stein campaign the initial conference call was being held to:

  • Introduce the transition leadership and teams
  • Discuss the goals of the transition and how team members can help
  • Outline timelines for hiring and agency assessment processes