A new candidate has entered the mayoral race in Kinston.
Adrien Meadows — who currently works at the Smithfield Plant in Kinston — filed for mayor of the city right before the Lenoir County Board of Elections closed Wednesday. Meadows joins Ralph Clark and John Marks as candidates for the position that will be filled after the current term of Kinston Mayor B.J. Murphy — who said he will not run for re-election — ends.
At 25 years old, Meadows would be the youngest mayor in the history of Kinston if he wins. Murphy was 29 when he was elected in 2009.
“There are a lot of problems in the city and things aren’t getting better,” Meadows said. “Nothing is really being solved and I figured, ‘if you need something done right you need to do it yourself.’”
Meadows believes he can use his age to an advantage by being a beacon of hope to some of the younger residents of Kinston.
“Our future is looking bleak,” Meadows said. “Someone needs to stand up for the young people because this isn’t right. Things need to be done; otherwise there won’t be a future.”
Meadows graduated from Kinston High School in 2006 and attended Elizabeth City State University. During his time in college, Meadows was the chapter president of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity for a year, committee chairman of Relay for Life for two years and a committee member of the March of Dimes for two years.
Although Meadows doesn’t have political experience, he believes his ability to lead and his point of views on life make him a worthy candidate.
“Besides my leadership skills, I have perspectives of the world,” Meadows said. “I can sense everyone’s struggle and pain. Everyone is looking for a way out and the economy is getting worse. I fear the middle class and those in poverty will become desperate. When that happens, crime goes up.”
Meadows said he wants the residents of Kinston to know that he is ready to work and do big things for the city.
“I’m here to fix problems and do my best to really make a difference,” Meadows said.
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. Thursday’s filers are in bold.
LenoirCounty
Kinston
Mayor — Ralph Clark, John Marks, Adrien Meadows
City Councilman (two seats) — Robbie Swinson(incumbent)
La Grange
Town commissioners (three seats) — David Holmes (incumbent), Bobby Wooten (incumbent), Veronica “Nicky” Lee (incumbent)
Pink Hill
Town board members (two seats) — Robin King Whaley
GreeneCounty
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), Robert “Bobby” Taylor Jr. (incumbent)
Walstonburg
Mayor — Susan McKeel Casper (incumbent)
Town commissioners (five seats) — Fitzhugh McKeel Jr. (incumbent)
Maury Sanitation Land District
Board member (three seats) — Julian Jones Jr. (incumbent)
JonesCounty
Trenton
Mayor — Darlene Spivey (incumbent)
Town commissioners (three seats) — Daniel Johnson Willis, Robert Horvath (incumbent)
Maysville
Mayor — none
Town commissioners (five seats) — Brenda Foy, David Chatman, Bobby Flowers (incumbent)
Pollocksville
Mayor — James 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