Keith King, a candidate for one of two At-Large Lenoir County Commissioner seats, brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge to his campaign against current County Commissioner Chair Linda Rouse Sutton, and former City Council member Sammy Aiken.

A native of Kinston, King graduated from Kinston High School before attending East Carolina University. He later transferred to North Carolina State University and attended Lenoir Community College for several quarters. Following this, he returned to NC State University and worked for an engineering firm in Raleigh, where he traveled extensively, visiting 45 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

King, who has been married to Lesley since their time in Raleigh, moved back to eastern North Carolina with his family in 1997. Leslie is from La Grange and graduated from North Lenoir High School. King’s professional background includes experience in both large and small companies, helping one firm grow from 35 to 300 employees and another from 1,200 to 2,000.

King’s public service began with a 9-10 year tenure on the Lenoir County Public School Board before joining the Lenoir County Commission. “I want to do what’s best for our county, keep our communication line open with Raleigh, manage our budget effectively, and support economic development,” King said. “I also aim to ensure public safety continues to improve under Sheriff Rogers.”

King’s decision to pursue public office was influenced by community requests. In 2004, several individuals encouraged him to run for the school board, although he was unsuccessful. He was later persuaded in 2014 by two school board members to run again, this time successfully securing the District 2 seat on the Lenoir County Board of Education. “I decided to run for the District 2 seat and won, serving three terms,” King explained. “My goal is to maintain low tax rates while ensuring positive growth and development.”

King cites personal challenges as preparation for public service. “As a parent, I wanted my children to be successful, and with the support of family, community, and church, I believe we’ve met that challenge,” he said. “Having successful children in today’s world with all its distractions is a significant accomplishment.”

In terms of community issues, King identifies public safety, economic development, and tax rates as top priorities. “Public safety is crucial, and we’ve seen improvements under Sheriff Rogers,” he said. “We need to continue our economic development efforts and keep our tax rates low to ensure sustainable growth.”

King is committed to transparency and accountability in his role. “I respond to every email and phone call I receive, and if I can’t answer immediately, I get back to people as soon as possible,” he stated. He emphasizes the importance of communication with municipalities and staying engaged with residents.

To engage with diverse voices, King plans to visit various parts of the county regularly and attend local events. “Transitioning from a district to a county-wide seat means I need to be accessible and listen to all residents,” he said.

King believes collaboration across party lines is essential for effective governance. “I value open discussion and debate,” he said. “I’m always willing to listen to all sides and aim to make decisions that benefit our county and its residents.”

Looking ahead, King and the commission focus on balancing short-term goals with long-term plans. “We engage in strategic planning annually,” King said. “This includes acquiring land and collaborating with regional economic development efforts.”

King has been serving as a commissioner for 10 months and appreciates the role’s demands. “I have enjoyed my time on the commission and am eager to continue working with other commissioners and leaders to improve our community,” he concluded.

North Carolina will hold its general election on Nov. 5th with in-person early voting beginning on October 17th. Neuse News will live stream the 2024 Election Results on Facebook starting at 7:15 pm.