Businessman Named to Cary Town Council

CARY, N.C. — The Town Council on Thursday appointed a local businessman to an open seat on the council.

Erv Portman, 51, will fill the unexpired term of former at-large councilman Michael Joyce, who stepped down last July.

Thirty-seven local residents applied for the council seat, and council members culled the list down to Portman and Dick Domann by September. But they remained deadlocked on the two finalists for months.

Portman founded Weststar, a contract manufacturing company specializing in precision devices. He has previously been appointed to Cary committees, including the Planning and Zoning Board, the Town Center Review Commission and the Mayor's Task Force on School Assignment.