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Burrell's appointment caught some people by surprise since another Jackson County resident, Marion Jones, had been endorsed by the boards of Sylva and Forest Hills to receive the position. Those boards, along with the county commissioners, had requested Easley appoint a Jackson County resident. However, the county board, of which Burrell is a member, made no recommendation as to who the appointee should be.
Burrell said he was interested in the appointment early in the process.
"We had another person (Jones) in the county interested in it," he said. "He and I got together. He said he wanted to go after it, and I said 'fine.'"
The appointment was made official Feb. 14, less than a week after Burrell learned he was being considered. After he was named, he said he talked to Jones and Graham County's Tom Davis, who was also interested in the position. Burrell said he is good friends with both men, and they pledged their support.
"I wished him well and told him congratulations," Jones said. "I know he'll do a good job. He worked out there years ago and will probably have some knowledge that will be beneficial to them."
Burrell was employed by the Department of Transportation for 11 and a half years before being elected register of deeds in 1974. He served in that position until 1998.
Elected officials had lobbied for board representation because the county had not had a DOT board member in more than 30 years and had not had someone serve a full term in nearly 60 years. Clint Dotson served approximately one year of an unexpired term in the late 1960s. The last local person to serve a full term was E.L. McKee in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Harry Buchanan, a Jackson County native, was living in Henderson County when he was a board member in the 1950s.
"I felt Jackson County needed someone," Burrell said. "I'm willing to serve in that capacity."
Another county native, Asheville attorney Alan Thornburg, will represent Division 13.
"I've had a lot of people ask me why (I want to serve the public)," Burrell said. "I was born and raised in this county. I have a great feeling for Jackson County and feel a great responsibility. I feel we've made a lot of progress, and I want to be part of the progress in the next few years."
As for his priorities, he said, "We've got a lot of unpaved roads. We've got to do some work on that."
He also wants to work on alleviating traffic congestion on N.C. 107. He noted an expected 50 percent enrollment increase over the next 10 years at Western Carolina University will bring more vehicles to the already busy highway.
He proposed looking at building a bypass connecting U.S. 441, N.C. 107 and U.S. 74. Previous proposals have referred to such a road as the "Southern Loop."
While he will be looking out for Jackson County, Burrell pledged to work hard for all 10 counties in the district. Through his years of public service, he said he knows most leaders throughout the district.
Burrell will be able to continue in his role as county commissioner. He said the new position will require extensive travel with monthly meetings in Raleigh and meetings throughout the district.
His first meeting is set for March 15 in Raleigh.
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