McMillian resigns as commissioner, hired as chief deputy; Herring demoted

County Attorney Amanda Prince confirmed that on Friday McMillian tendered his resignation as commissioner effective the same day.

According to a personnel action form The News Reporter received through a public records request, Sheriff Bill Rogers promoted McMillian to the chief deputy position on Friday effective at 1 p.m. that same day. McMillian was promoted from a court deputy with a salary of $49,801.38 to chief deputy making $85,840.17.

On Nov. 22, Rogers suspended Chief Deputy Aaron Herring until Monday, Dec. 5, which is the same day that former Sheriff Jody Greene was set to return to office after winning re-election on Nov. 8. However, two election protests have delayed Greene’s return to office. In a Monday, Dec. 5, interview with The News Reporter, Elections Director Ashley Collins confirmed that Greene’s certificate of election “is on hold — because of the appeals — until the state makes a decision.”

A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said on Nov. 29 that Rogers would not comment on Herring’s suspension.

According to a personnel action form, on Friday Rogers also demoted Herring from chief deputy with a salary of $85,840.17 to a court deputy earning $49,801.38.

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners, including McMillian, voted unanimously Oct. 5 to appoint Rogers to serve as acting sheriff after a judge suspended Greene on Oct. 4. Rogers, Greene and McMillian are all retired from the N.C. State Highway Patrol.

Greene’s suspension followed a petition from District Attorney Jon David alleging that Greene made racist comments about sheriff’s office employees in a recorded phone conversation. David expanded his allegations in an amended petition Oct. 21. Greene resigned Oct. 24 during a hearing that could have resulted in his removal from office.

McMillian won the 2018 general election for the District 1 county commissioner seat as a Democrat. After he lost the May 2022 Democratic primary to Barbara Roseboro Featherson, McMillian changed his party affiliation to Republican. On July 1, he filed to run for the District 3 seat on the Columbus County Board of Education, but he dropped out of the race in early August.

Featherson is scheduled to be sworn in as a county commissioner Monday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. at the Commissioners’ chambers on W. Webster Street in downtown Whiteville. Joining her will be Scott Floyd, who was elected to represent District 7.

Neither Rogers nor McMillian had responded to a request for comment by presstime.

This story includes reporting by Joseph Williams.