Kinston voters will choose 3 city council members Tuesday

Sammy, Aiken, Jim Godfrey, Antonio “Pearl” Hardy, and Felicia Solomon. Photos courtesy of Lenoir County Board of Elections Facebook page.

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Voters in Kinston will head to the polls Tuesday to fill three seats on the Kinston City Council.

Incumbents Sammy Aiken and Felicia Solomon face two challengers in Jim Godfrey and Antonio Hardy. The top three vote-getters will serve four-year terms on the city council. 

Early voting for the race has been going on for several weeks, but turnout for early voting has not matched levels seen in previous races in the city. Aiken said he hopes turnout on election day will make up for those deficits. 

“If you don’t vote, you end up with a government you might not like. I encourage people to educate themselves on why they need to vote and what they are voting for,” Aiken said. 

Candidate Jim Godfrey said in some ways, the end of the campaign season is a relief, and he is excited for election day.

“I’m glad it’s coming to a close, and we will know Tuesday night who is going to lead the city,” Godfrey said. 

Both Aiken and Godfrey said many voters they have spoken to throughout the campaign have expressed concerns about city infrastructure and the future economic prospects of the city. 

With election day in sight, candidates will spend the final three days making a push to connect with city residents and encourage every eligible voter to make their voice heard on Tuesday.

Attempts to reach the Hardy and Solomon campaigns were not successful.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For questions related to voting in Lenoir County, please call the Lenoir County Board of Elections at 252.523.0636.