Durham, NC — Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC) is pleased to announce the appointment of its Board Officers for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, including Town of Selma Mayor Byron McAllister as Board Chair. In this role, Chair McAllister will lead the Board in shaping policy direction, maintaining regional focus, fostering trust and engagement across communities, and ensuring that the Regional Council’s mission—to advance the success and sustainability of local governments—is upheld across all programs and initiatives.
The Board Officers are appointed each year by the 50-member Central Pines Regional Council Board of Delegates. The Board is represented by one elected official from each of Central Pines' fifty local government members across the region.
The FY 25–26 Board Officers are:
•Chair: Byron McAllister, Mayor, Town of Selma
•First Vice Chair: Susan Evans, County Commission Chair, Wake County
•Second Vice Chair: Sheveil Harmon, Commissioner, Town of Angier
•Secretary/Treasurer: Chris Deshazor, Councilmember, Town of Holly Springs
Together, these leaders will play a vital role in guiding CPRC’s mission to strengthen regional collaboration and support local governments through shared planning and service delivery. The new officers will officially begin their roles this month, with the first Board meeting of the Fiscal Year scheduled for Wednesday, August 27 at 6:00 PM at the CPRC Office.
CPRC also extends its deepest appreciation to Brett Gantt, Councilmember, Town of Apex, who served as Board Chair during FY 24–25. Under his leadership, the organization made notable strides, including moving closer to 100% membership among eligible local governments. Special thanks also go to Randee Haven O'Donnell, Councilmember, Town of Carrboro, who served as First Vice Chair during the past year and contributed significantly to CPRC’s governance and strategic initiatives.
“I am excited to serve as the Central Pines Regional Council Chair in a time where our communities face unprecedented growth and change,” said incoming Chair Byron McAllister. “It is a tremendous honor to have our regional leaders place their trust in me to lead CPRC over the next year while following in the footsteps of Chairs Brett Gantt, Butch Lawter, and an impressive list of civil servants. I hope my participation in this role will continue to improve regional cooperation as it becomes paramount to meet the needs of our growing populations. With the amount of experience and knowledge spread amongst the CPRC board and staff, I am most eager to learn more about local government.”
The Central Pines Regional Council Board consists of elected and appointed representatives from 50 member governments across the region. The Board meets regularly to provide direction on strategic priorities, programs, and services that benefit communities in the Central Pines region.
For more information about CPRC’s leadership and work across the region, visit centralpinesnc.gov.
Media Contact:
Beth Seidel
Member Engagement Coordinator
919-558-2712
bseidel@centralpinesnc.gov
About Central Pines Regional Council
For more than five decades, Central Pines Regional Council has been educating and empowering local governments through direct assistance, regional planning, and technical expertise. As a resource and support hub for local governments, community members, and partners across Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, and Wake counties, we believe that our region thrives when we come together with a common vision and plan for the future. Our work fosters constructive conversations and drives long-term change in our community to ensure our region is thriving, equitable, connected and resilient.
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