No changes in majority of HC races
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 5, 2003
WINTON – Tuesday’s municipal elections in Hertford County yielded no surprises as incumbents dominated the field of candidates in unofficial results.
In Murfreesboro, the five incumbent Town Council members were returned to office, as was the Mayor.
William &uot;Bill&uot; Stephens was the top vote-getter in the Council race as he was named on 255 of the 333 total ballots cast. Finishing, in order, behind Stephens were incumbents Billy Theodorakis (246), Wayne Brown (237), William &uot;Bill&uot; Parker Jr. (225) and Booker Daniel (218).
Newcomer Thomas Schucker ran dead last in the field with 151 votes.
Incumbent Murfreesboro Mayor Ben McLean ran unopposed. He received 269 votes. There were seven, unnamed write-in votes for Mayor.
In Winton, incumbent Mayor Calvin Hall withstood a write-in campaign by challenger Bobbie Davenport and won reelection by a 59-21 margin.
Winton’s five incumbent Town Council members ran unopposed and will return to office. William McCoy Pierce led the way with 67 votes. He was followed by Charles Jones (57), Wesley Liverman (57), Carolyn Bazemore (55) and Bernard Moore (55).
Davenport received one write-in vote for Winton’s Town Council.
The race for Mayor in the Village of Cofield was captured by incumbent Hermea Pugh Sr. He earned 75 percent (33) of 44 votes cast for the town’s leading position while challenger Melvin S. Wynn mustered only 11 votes.
Incumbent Councilman Herbert D. Smith was the leading vote-getter in Cofield as he was named on 37 ballots. His four fellow incumbents – Anthony Archer (33 votes), Chris Sutton (33), Nettie Brickers (32) and Lee Watford Jr. – will all return to office.
Two of the smallest turnouts in Hertford County were in Harrellsville and Como where 19 and 14 respective voters went to the polls. Incumbents ran unopposed in both towns.
In Harrellsville, Mayor Robert Dantz earned another term in office with 18 votes. Council members returning are Coleman Taylor (19 votes), Deborah Baker (18), Ray Worrells (18), Shadrick Gathers Jr. (17) and Mary Thompson (16).
Como Mayor Danny Edwards along with Council members Susan Kennington, Stephen Pearce and Irvin Stephens led the way with 13 votes each. Fellow incumbent Helen Curle (11 votes) will also return to office.
All votes throughout Hertford County will not become official until Friday’s canvass.