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Voters return incumbents to office



Voters re-elected mayors and town board members and added some new officials in Wilson area municipal races Tuesday.
Black Creek residents elected a new mayor, Ralph “Mack” Smith Jr. with 35 votes and returned four incumbents to the town board. Smith, a member of the town board since 2006, takes on the role previously held by his father, Ralph Smith, Black Creek’s mayor from 1977 until his death in 2006.
“I’ll never live up to his standard but I’m going to give it my best shot,” Smith said. “He loved this town, too, and he loved the people in it.
This election is Smith’s first bid for the town’s top post. Mayor Roland Godwin decided to not seek re-election.
“It’s an honor and privilege,” Smith said. “I love Black Creek. “It’s a great place to
live and raise a family.”
Incumbents returning to the town board include Roland Lucas who received the most votes of 37 and was followed by Ellen Dawson with 34 votes, Elton Franks Jr. with 34 votes and Lisa Skinner with 32 votes. Damian Seltzer also received 13 votes. The race also brought in 20 write-in votes. Seltzer is seeking the fifth seat on the town board. The outcome of the write-in votes could determine whether Seltzer wins the race.
All election results are unofficial until a canvass of the votes on Nov. 12.

 
SIMS
Sims Mayor Dana Hewett was elected to a second, two-year term with 32 votes. The five candidates taking the most votes and elected to the town board include incumbents Bobby Ruffin with 32 votes, Ray Wells with 26 votes and Rhonda Payne with 26 votes and newcomers Courtney Warren with 20 votes and Michael Hall with 19 votes. Candidates Louis Sparks lost the race with 14 votes and Danny Howell lost with 12 votes.



 
ELM CITY
Mayor Grady Smith was re-elected with 87 votes and even though he didn’t have a competitor, there were 54 write-in votes.
Elm City voters returned its five incumbents to the board with Melvin Cooke receiving 120 votes and followed by Gil Wheeler with 106 votes, Lewis Crockett Jr. receiving 95 votes, Dale Childress receiving 93 votes and Marsha Wells receiving 84 votes.

 
LUCAMA
Three incumbents seeking re-election to the Lucama town board were re-elected to four-year terms. David Johnson received 35 votes, Jed Simpson received 32 votes and Tim Wiggs received 31 votes. Thaddeus Washington lost the race with 10 votes.

 
SARATOGA
Saratoga Mayor Tommy Hawkins was re-elected to office, without any competition, with 28 votes.
Incumbents Elaine Saunders was re-elected to the town board with 26 votes and Ronald McCormick was re-elected with 23 votes. Anthony Newcomb also won the election with 26 votes.

 
STANTONSBURG
Stantonsburg’s three town board incumbents were re-elected to four-year terms with Jackie Grice receiving 25 votes, Donnie Bass receiving 23 votes and Robert Watson receiving 19 votes.

 
JOHNSTON COUNTY
Kenly Mayor David Grady was re-elected to serve a third term after winning the Tuesday race with 114 votes and beating his competitor Larry Smith who took in 51 votes.
“I think the fact that I did little campaigning and he did a lot speaks well of the campaign,” Grady said of his race for mayor.
“I look forward to continuing the things we’ve accomplished during the last four years. We’ve done well on a lot of fronts and I’d like to see that continue.”
Bonnie Williamson won re-election to the Kenly Town Council with 131 votes. James Little also won a seat on the council with 116 votes. Joe McDougald won the third seat on the council with 125 votes.

 
rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818

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