New faces win local elections
Some new faces will be a part of local government, as Tuesday’s municipal elections saw several challengers win seats in Greene and Lenoir Counties.
In Greene County, voters in Snow Hill voted for two seats on the town Board of Commissioners. Incumbent commissioner Lorrine Washington was re-elected, as was challenger Dianne Andrews to serve her first term on the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners. Andrews received 249 votes and Washington received 245 votes. Challenger Michael Rhodes received 215 votes in third place, while incumbent Donnell Hagans received 210 votes.
Other races in Greene County were not competitive, with all candidates who filed for election winning seats.
Voters in Kinston and La Grange had competitive races on the ballot.
In Kinston, three seats on the city council were at stake, with four candidates running for office. Incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Felicia “Nikki” Solomon came in first place, with 2,147 votes, handily winning re-election. Challenger Antonio Pearl Hardy was second, with 1,978 votes. Incumbent Councilman Sammy Aiken ran third with 1,786 votes. Jim Godfrey received 1,183 votes in fourth place. Solomon, Hardy and Aiken will take seats on the city council.
The race for the La Grange town Board of Commissioners was razor thin Tuesday night. Three seats on the board were up for election, with five candidates vying for them. The unofficial numbers reported Tuesday night showed incumbent Albert Gray leading the way with 337 votes, followed by fellow incumbent Larry Gladney with 307.
Only two votes separated the third and fourth positions, as challenger Reid Rouse received 302 votes to the 300 for incumbent Clifton Harrison. Challenger Andre Cannon received 273 votes in fifth place.
If those numbers remain unchanged following the official canvas on November 15, Gray, Gladney and Rouse will take the three seats on the Board of Commissioners.
In the race to replace long-time La Grange mayor Woody Gurley, who did not seek reelection, Bobby Wooten received 332 votes to the 275 for David Holmes.
In Jones County, Trenton mayor Darlene Spivey was unopposed in her bid for reelection, and races for town commissioner in Trenton and Pollocksville were not competitive, with three candidates running for three seats in each town.
