Nancy Roy Fiorillo is the new chair of the Moore County Planning Board.

Her appointment came on a unanimous vote by the Board of Commissioners at a Monday afternoon meeting. Fiorillo, a former county planning director, succeeds Harry Huberth, who recently rotated off the planning panel.

However, Huberth has been named an alternate member, available to serve if a quorum is not available.

Planning Board bylaws require that the commissioners appoint the chairperson and members elect the vice-chair. Board members elected Kim VonCanon at their March meeting. Bylaws also restrict members from serving more than two consecutive three-year terms. VonCanon is a former member who has been in "retirement" for the past two years.

ATTORNEY -- Also at the Monday meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Misty Randall Leland as county attorney and Brenda White as deputy attorney.

Both are current members of the county legal staff.

Leland was appointed with a beginning annual salary of $80,240. She has been acting as county attorney since December, when Lesley Moxley resigned to accept a similar position in Macon County.

White's beginning salary is $74,493 a year.

The appointments came after a lengthy closed (to the public) session held once the board had completed its regular agenda Monday afternoon.

No action was taken to fill a vacancy remaining on the county attorney's staff. Word has it that the board will hold the salary for a third attorney until a determination is made as to whether the existing staff can handle the workload.

EDWARDS -- John Edwards' presidential campaign revealed Monday that it has raised $14 million in contributions.

Edwards trails front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. She has raised $26 million.

Edwards' campaign has said that at least $1 million of the money will be set aside for a possible campaign following the primaries. He would have to return that money if he fails to win the nomination. Clinton has not said how much she will set aside.

Ohio Sen. Barack Obama -- who according to polls is in second behind Clinton -- has not released how much money he has raised.

GOP EXECUTIVE -- John C. Owen, chairman of the Moore County Republican Party, has called a meeting of the executive committee for Tuesday, April 17, at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Courts Facility in Carthage.

The doors will open at 6:15. Owen also issued a reminder that the 6th Congressional District GOP convention will be held Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in Asheboro. The state convention will be held June 1-3 in Charlotte.

PINEDENE -- The Pinedene Precinct of the Republican Party will meet Monday, April 9, at 7 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club in Southern Pines.

LWV ALERT -- The League of Women Voters of North Carolina called a legislative alert for the House Committee on Health hearing held Tuesday at noon in the Legislative Office Building in Raleigh.

Under consideration is a bill allowing schools to provide information on cervical cancer to students in grades 5-12. Information would advise parents and guardians about issues related to cervical cancer and other diseases and vaccines available to prevent such diseases.

Rep. Joe Boylan, the Republican representing most of Moore County, is a member of the House Health Committee.

The Tuesday session was a hearing for House members but was not a public hearing.

Florence Gilkeson can be reached at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.