During a special meeting on August 24, 2026, the Currituck County Board of Commissioners appointed Steve Hedrick to fill the vacant District 5 seat until the winner of the upcoming General Election is sworn onto the Board in December. Hedrick was sworn in by Brandon Johnson, Assistant Clerk of Superior Court.
The District 5 seat has been vacant since former Commissioner Owen Etheridge passed away on June 25, 2026. Hedrick was nominated for the position by The Currituck GOP Executive Committee. Hedrick won the Republican Primary Election in March for the District 5 contest and is running for the seat in the General Election.
Previously, the District 5 seat was filled by Troy Breathwaite while Etheridge was on a medical leave of absence. Breathwaite served as a temporary replacement from November 3, 2025, until Etheridge’s passing.
