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Jane Ann Hodges Awarded Inaugural ‘Outstanding Director Award’ in North Carolina

By Jesse Wood

Watauga Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges speaks before the State Board of Elections in 2013. Photo by Lonnie Webster
Watauga Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges speaks before the State Board of Elections in 2013. Photo by Lonnie Webster

Watauga County Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges received the inaugural “Outstanding Director Award” from the N.C. Association of Directors of Elections at NCADE’s Spring Conference on Monday.

NCADE President Dawn Stumpf released a statement to members of the local media on Wednesday, stating that Hodges’ peers were “proud” to honor Hodges, who has worked diligently as the director of local elections for nearly three decades.

“Jane Ann Hodges has always been professional, ethical, and has worked hard to give voting citizens elections that were fair and honest for the past 29 years. For Jane Ann, this is not just a job, but a commitment to serve the citizens of Watauga County and the State of North Carolina,” the statement read.

Hodges, who is retiring at the end of June, said she was emotional when she received the award earlier this week.

“I just got up and cried and cried and told them 99 other directors are as good or better and I got the award?” Hodges said. “I am very honored and very proud … It was very humbling.”

The NCADE plans to award an “Outstanding Director” in the state annually in the future.

The Watauga County Board of Elections meets tonight at 5 p.m. in the Watauga County Administration Building on King Street. Among the agenda items is the appointment of a new director.