Any person who has been elected to any office covered by this Article but has not yet taken the oath of office shall be considered to hold the office for the purpose of this Article and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-919 (1981, c. 822, s. 1; 2011-145, s. 19.1(dd1); 2011-391, s. 43(l); 2014-100, s. 17.1(v).)