It’s official: There will be a race for the mayor’s office in Kinston.
John Allen Marks Jr. — pastor and founder of Increasing the Praise Ministries on North Queen Street — filed at the Lenoir County Board of Elections on Tuesday, hoping to fill the void that will be left by incumbent mayor B.J. Murphy, who will not file for reelection.
Marks — a 1973 graduate of Kinston High School — is the second person to file for the position after Ralph Clark filed his paperwork on Friday. Marks may not have political experience, but believes he can provide great service to the city of Kinston.
“I believe I can bring something to the table and can be an asset because I’ve been here for about 45 years,” Marks said. “I have a good amount of knowledge about what goes on in the city and I plan getting the job done where it’s needed.”
Marks has spent time working in environmental services for the City of Kinston, driving recycling trucks for five years amongst other jobs. Marks is also planning on opening a community outreach center at Hines Lovitt Park on King Street.
Education-wise, Marks has received master's degrees in both psychology and counseling, along with a bachelor's degree in biblical studies at the United American Freewill Baptist College in Kinston. Marks is currently attending Pitt Community College and plans on graduating in 2015 with a degree in human service.
Marks has lost three bids to be elected to Kinston City Council, but said he is relishing the opportunity to run in the city’s first nonpartisan election.
“I’m running as a nonpartisan candidate,” Marks said. “I’ve wanted to run in an election like this and it was an opportune time to me. My plan is to bring communities together. Nobody will be left behind, children or adults.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Campaign filings
Here is the list of those who have filed for November’s elections in Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. Tuesday’s filers are in bold.
LENOIR COUNTY
Kinston
Mayor — Ralph Clark, John Marks
City Councilman (two seats) — none
La Grange
Town commissioners (three seats) — David Holmes (incumbent), Bobby Wooten (incumbent)
Pink Hill
Town board members (two seats) — none
GREENE COUNTY
Hookerton
Mayor — Bobby Taylor (incumbent)
Town commissioners (two seats) — none
Snow Hill
Mayor — Dennis Liles (incumbent)
Town commissioners (three seats) — Rebecca “Becky” Scarborough (incumbent), Geraldine “Pat” Shackleford (incumbent)
Walstonburg
Mayor — Susan McKeel Casper (incumbent)
Town commissioners (five seats) — Fitzhugh McKeel Jr. (incumbent)
Maury Sanitation Land District
Board member (three seats) — none
JONES COUNTY
Trenton
Mayor — Darlene Spivey (incumbent)
Town commissioners (three seats) — Daniel Johnson Willis
Maysville
Mayor — none
Town commissioners (five seats) — Brenda Foy, David Chatman, Bobby Flowers (incumbent)
Pollocksville
Mayor — James V. Bender (incumbent)
Town commissioners (two seats) — none
Sources: Dana King, Director of the Lenoir County Board of Elections; Gail Lee, Director of the Jones County Board of Elections and Jane Monroe, Director of the Greene County Board of Elections