Write-ins determine Cofield & Winton races

Published 11:10 am Thursday, November 9, 2017

COFIELD – Write-in votes determined the outcome of Tuesday’s election for the Cofield Town Council.

Only one individual, incumbent Councilman Anthony V. Archer, filed for one of the five available seats on that governing board. Archer received 66 votes, according to the unofficial results.

However, there were a total of 269 write-in votes among numerous individuals. The top four write-in candidates were Cofield Council incumbents Dacia Sutton (58 votes), Stephen Lassiter (48), and Hermea Pugh Jr. (42). Also earning a seat on the Cofield Council was newcomer Charlene Harrell, who received 39 write-in votes.

June S. Wynn was unchallenged in her bid for Cofield Mayor. She earned that seat with 55 votes. There were 43 write-in votes for Cofield Mayor.

Winton’s mayor was also determined by write-in as no one filed for that seat. Of the 56 write-in votes, Evans Heath earned the seat with 26 ballots cast in his name.

Five individuals were on the ballot for an equal number of seats on the Winton Town Council. There, three incumbents led the way: Emily (Emy) Winstead with 62 votes while Blake Blythe and James (Bud) Manley received 58 and 57 votes respectively. The fourth Council seat was earned by current Winton Mayor Tiffany Michelle Lewis who received 46 votes after deciding to swap positions on the town’s governing board. Political newcomer Brian Futrell gained the fifth seat with 44 votes.

There were 41 write-in votes for Winton Town Council.

Meanwhile, incumbents were successful in their reelection bids in other Election Day results from Hertford County municipalities.

Como voters returned Mayor Irvin L. Stephens Jr. to office. He ran unopposed and received 12 votes. Incumbents on the Como Town Council were also returned to office: Susan Kennington and Stephen F. Pearce – both with 13 votes – along with Ann E. Spruill (12) and Lorie Higbee (11).

In Harrellsville, Mayor Mary L. Thompson was unopposed and received 11 votes. Town Council members Ronnie Revell (11 votes) and 10 votes each for Deborah Annette Baker and Lisa Ann Hunnicutt were also unchallenged on the ballot.

The remaining two seats on the Harrellsville Town Council were determined by write-in votes. Those positions were earned by incumbent Roy Worrells and newcomer Emma Perry, each with seven votes.

All votes are unofficial until the Hertford County Board of Elections conducts its mandated canvass next week of all ballots cast in the election.

About Cal Bryant

Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.

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