WHITEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- A North Carolina county election board says the Republican candidate in the still-unresolved November race for sheriff was ineligible because he didn't live in the county according to state requirements.

• Columbus County board voted 3-2 on Thursday that Jody Greene wasn't a county resident on Election Day
• The county board ruled during a two-day hearing 
• The state board wouldn't authorize November's result because time for appeals hadn't ended

News outlets report the Columbus County board voted 3-2 on Thursday that Jody Greene wasn't a county resident on Election Day or one year before the election. The State Board of Elections will review the decision. 

The county board ruled during a two-day hearing in which members visited Greene's recreational vehicle located on property in the county.

Greene was sworn in after a recount showed him 37 votes ahead of Democratic incumbent Lewis Hatcher. The state board wouldn't authorize November's result because time for appeals hadn't ended. Neither candidate runs day-to-day sheriff's department operations while awaiting a final result.