Upsets abound in Rich Square
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The numbers are in and shake ups abound in Rich Square as unofficial numbers show Ted Tyler with more votes than Mayor Peggy Risper.
According to Northampton County Board of Elections Chairwoman Maryanne Bolton, Tyler, a former mayor of Rich Square, received 126 of 128 write-in votes while Risper tallied 125 votes.
Bolton said the official numbers will be available on Tuesday.
The race for the five seats on Rich Square Town Council held just as many surprises as three newcomers received the largest number of votes in the top five.
Candidate J. Dudley Vick received the most votes for town council with 229 while Linwood C. Bryant had the fourth highest number of votes with 150.
Unofficial numbers show newcomer Ricky Vick, who received the fifth highest number of votes with 145, edging out incumbent Raymond Joyner (144) by one vote.
Two incumbents faired well in the election as Charles M. Eason received the second highest number of votes with 167 and Reginald White obtained the third highest with 160.
Council incumbents William Smallwood Jr. and Nannie Ellen Branch were defeated as they received 142 and 112 respectively.
Meanwhile in other election news, Conway Mayor Brian Bolton has been re-elected in an uncontested race.
Conway Town Council will have some new faces as newcomers claimed three of the five seats. Phil A. Matthews received the highest votes with 75 followed by Gail C. Wade with 71 votes and Andy Woodard who tied with council incumbent Alan C. Harris with 63 votes each. Incumbent Billy Joyner was also re-elected with 62 votes.
In Woodland, Mayor Jay Jenkins was re-elected for another term in an uncontested race.
Woodland Council incumbents Joseph Blythe and Joseph Mitchell received 62 and 67 votes respectively, securing the two seats open. Candidate Carolyn Earley Spruill received only 47 votes.
Lasker Mayor Leon “Dick” Collier won his bid for re-election in an uncontested race.
Lasker Town Council incumbents Charles M. Daughtry Jr., Robin Gibson and Brenda Whitely will also be taking their seats for another term.
Severn Mayor George McGee secured his bid for re-election in an uncontested race. Incumbents for town council did the same as Frank Ferguson, Harold Garris, Troy Holloman, Elouise P. Martin and Parker Watson were re-elected uncontested.
In Jackson, Councilman Jim Gossip won his bid for mayor in an uncontested race, while incumbents for town council William R. “Bill” Futrell Jr. with 56 votes and Stevie G. Harrell with 55 votes, secured the two seats open.
In the western part of the county, unofficial numbers in the race for Gaston mayor show, Ron Brooks with 12 votes and Mayor Danny Tolbert with six. All 18 votes were write-ins.
For Gaston Town Council, which had three seats open, incumbent Donald W. Conner secured his re-election with 79 votes. Newcomers Jerry Dickerson and Frank Manning received 75 and 73 votes respectively.
Incumbent Wade L. Moseley was defeated as he received only 38 votes.
In the race for Seaboard Town Council, which had two seats open, newcomer Ed Stevens won his bid with 98 votes while incumbent R. Vick Harris II secured his re-election with 90 votes.
In Garysburg, Mayor Roy L. Bell won his bid for re-election in an uncontested race. Incumbents Lola Ausby, Jearline Brown, James M. Mayo, Darryl W. Whittle and Iris F. Williams secured all five seats for town council uncontested as well.