WINTON – Both Hertford County School Board incumbents have won their bids for reelection.

On Tuesday, J. Wendell Hall and David L. Shields were reelected to their seats on the Hertford County Board of Education.

Hall and Shields edged out candidate Marcus L. Williams, who lost his bid by 168 votes, according to the unofficial election results.

Hall received the majority of the votes with 5,462 (38.38 percent). Meanwhile, Shields received 4,441 votes (31.21 percent) while Williams was named on 4,273 ballots (30.03 percent). There were also 55 write-ins.

Williams eagerly watched the vote tally as it updated on the Hertford County Board of Elections web site displayed in the Hertford County Commissioners’ Board Room.

With 12 of 13 precincts tallied, Williams and Shields were separated by just a handful of votes. But as the last precinct came in Williams was defeated.

In an interview with the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Williams thanked those who helped him campaign.

“I appreciate all they did for me,” he said. “I’ll continue to do my best for Hertford County. It’s always hard when you come that close. …I congratulate both of them (Hall and Shields).”

Hall said he was looking forward to the next four years on the board.

“I’m a little overwhelmed, but very happy the citizens of Hertford County again decided to have me serve them on the Board of Education,” he said. “I look forward to the next four years to improve public education for the students in Hertford County.”

Hall thanked his reelection team for their work as well as his wife, “B” (Bettie). Hall said he was proud of his fellow candidates for running clean campaigns.

Shields thanked the citizens of the county for their vote of confidence as well as his wife, Julie.

He noted the progress in the school district with Hertford County High School,Early College and C.S. Brown becoming schools of distinction.

“I think the school board is moving in the right direction,” Shields said about his reelection along with fellow board member Hall. “I think with the progress we’ve made over the last 12 years on the school board people think it’s all good.”

In other Hertford County election news, County Commissioner Howard J. Hunter III (District 1) received the most votes of the three unopposed commissioner incumbents.

Hunter received 8,536 votes while Commissioner Ronald J. Gatling (District 2) earned 8,045 and Commission Vice Chair William “Bill” Mitchell Jr. (District 3) received 8,488.

Meanwhile, Register of Deeds Melanie Storey, who also ran unopposed, received 8,975 votes.