Sue Black made it official this week.
She will be a Democratic candidate next year for the District 4 seat on the Moore County Board of Commissioners.
Black, a former chairwoman of the Moore County Board of Education, told The Pilot this week that her announcement comes early because she needs a head start on the campaign. The filing season is almost a year away.
“I need support from my Republican friends as well as Democrats,” Black said. “Re-publicans want good schools too.”
District 4 is the seat now held by Republican Commis-sioner Bob Ewing, a veteran board member.
Black lives on the Carthage side of N.C. 73 near West End. This places her residence within District 4. If her home were on the other side of the highway, she would be in District 2, now represented by Commissioner Colin McKenzie, a Republican and also a distant relative of Black.
Black said she would run for the Board of Commissioners even if she lived in McKenzie’s district.
“I’m not afraid of a challenge,” she said.
Black said she is running for the board because of her experience on the school board and her concern for public education in Moore County.
She plans to run an active campaign. She has already lined up Linda McCaskill, chairwoman of the Moore County Democratic Women, to serve as her campaign finance chair. McCaskill is also a former member of the school board.
“I’m the most qualified candidate,” Black said. “I’m a native with 15 years on the school board. I understand the needs of the county.”
First elected to the Board of Education in 1984, Black has served as chairwoman three times.
“I have led or supported every school improvement initiative since I have been elected to the school board,” she said.
Susan McKenzie Black graduated from Pinehurst High School in 1961 and later earned an associate degree in mental health at Sandhills Community College. She is the daughter of the late Pat and Thom McKenzie of the Juniper Lake community near Pinehurst.
Black works for Homewood Suites by Hilton in Pinehurst, where her duties include the front desk and guest services.
Black has been married to Larry W. Black for 32 years. Son of the late Masger and Katie Lee Black of Eastwood, he is owner of Larry Black Custom Kitchens, a business that designs, sells and installs custom kitchens and baths.
They have six natural children — Mark, Jeff, Tim, Trisha, Molly and Laurie — and 12 grandchildren. Through the years the Blacks have also cared for more than 40 foster children in their home.
She has two sisters, Peggy McKenzie and Laurie Mitchell. There was one brother, the late Jerry McKenzie.
