Hinnant beat Broadwell with 54 percent to Broadwell's 45 percent of the vote on Tuesday.

"I had heard it was a dead heat the whole time," Hinnant said. "But I'm glad I won ... and I hope I can hire an economic development director and help bring more unity to the board (of commissioners.)"

Hinnant, 53, is a retired assistant director of the Governor's Crime Commission. He didn't seek reelection in 2007.

Broadwell, 59, is a general practice attorney.

He couldn't be reached for comment.

Joining Hinnant on the board will be Samuel Laughery and James Parham, who will fill the two open seats left by Carol Hinnant and Sid Baynes, who did not seek reelection.

Parham received 32 percent of the vote.

Laughery received 25 percent.

They beat out Tillie Turlington, who got 22 percent of the vote and Johnny Easters, who garnered 19 percent.

"I want to thank the folks who supported me and I look forward to working closely with the town and the new Board of Commissioners," said Laughery a 69-year-old retired tech specialist who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency and Nasdaq.

Parham, 72, is a retired education professor and two-time unsuccessful candidate.

Easters, 60, runs a company that installs and maintains exercise equipment. This was his first bid for office.

Turlington, 65, has worked as a children's minister for 30 years. She ran for Wake County school board about eight years ago and for Wendell's town board in the 1990s. She lost both bids.