The first day of filing season arrived in Lenoir County on Friday, but there was no rush to the county’s Board of Elections, save for one candidate.
Former Kinston City Manager Ralph Clark filled out his paperwork immediately after filing began at noon in his quest to become the next mayor of Kinston.
Clark — hoping to fill the seat currently being held by B.J. Murphy, who said he will not run for reelection — was Kinston’s city manager from 1999-2007. He has held the same position during stints in Clayton, Washington, Elizabeth City, Roxboro and Smithfield.
“I’ve spent 32 years in local government and have an understanding due to exposure,” Clark said. “I feel like I bring something to the table that most candidates don’t.”
Carey Washburn agrees with Clark’s claims. Washburn was a Kinston City Councilman from 1990-94 and has been Clark’s next door neighbor since 1999. Washburn came to the Lenoir County Board of Elections to show support for Clark.
“When you have someone living that close to you, it’s easy to know what kind of person they are,” Washburn said. “I believe Ralph will help the city tremendously. He’s not the type of person to sit around and wait. He believes in getting things done.”
Clark was one of two people to file for a position on Friday in preparation for the first nonpartisan election in Lenoir County. The Supreme Court’s decision to repeal Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act last month allows the county to have elections without dealing with a primary election.
“In previous years, we had to worry about the primary, but because of nonpartisan elections we only have to deal with one election,” Barbara Hammonds — Supervisor of the Lenoir County Board of Elections — said.
La Grange Town Councilman David Holmes will be running for a chance to be reelected.
Currently, there are two city councilman positions open in Kinston, along with three town councilman positions in La Grange and two board member seats open in Pink Hill. The deadline to file is Friday, July 19 at noon.
Although Clark is currently running unopposed, he said he’ll be ready for any opponent filing for the same position.
“You develop strategy based in opposition,” Clark said. “I don’t have a strategy at the moment, but I’ve got enough people and supporters around me to respond to whatever comes my way.”
There are few requirements in order to file for government positions in Lenoir County. Any citizen who is 21 or older, a registered voter and has been a resident of the city or town for more than 30 days is eligible to run after submitting a filing fee. The cost is $10 to run in Kinston and La Grange, and $5 in Pink Hill.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Campaign filings as of 5 p.m., Friday
Filing began Friday at noon and continues until noon on July 19
Lenoir County
Kinston
Mayor — Ralph Clark
City Council (two seats) — none
La Grange
Town Council (three seats) — David Holmes
Pink Hill
Town Board (two seats) — none
Greene County
Hookerton
Mayor — Bobby Taylor (incumbent)
Town commissioners (two seats) — none
Snow Hill
Mayor — none
Town commissioners (three seats) — none
Walstonburg
Mayor — Susan McKeel Casper (incumbent)
Town commissioners (five seats) — Fitzhugh McKeel Jr.
Maury Sanitation Land District
Board member (three seats) — none
Jones County
Trenton
Mayor — none
Town commissioners (three seats) — Daniel Johnson Willis
Maysville
Mayor — none
Town commissioners (5 seats) — Brenda Foy, David Chatman
Pollocksville
Mayor — none
Town commissioners (two seats) — none
Sources: Dana King, Lenoir County Board of Elections Director; Gail Lee, Jones County Board of Elections Director; and Jane Monroe, Greene County Board of Elections Director