Risper earns another term in tight Rich Square race
Published 11:11 am Thursday, November 9, 2017
RICH SQUARE – If the unofficial tally from Tuesday’s election holds true, incumbent Rich Square Mayor Doris (Peggy) Risper will earn another term in office.
The not-yet official numbers show Risper clinging to a narrow lead over challenger Peggy Cary, 121-108. A second challenger for Risper’s seat, Pamela Edwards Majette, earned 11 votes.
In a crowded field of nine candidates for the five seats on the Rich Square Board of Commissioners, four incumbents won reelection. Charles Eason (169 votes), Linwood C. Bryant (142), Raymond Joyner (118) and Reginald White (110) each retained their positions on the town’s governing board. Larry Godwin earned the fifth seat with the third-most votes (130).
Patricia W. Freeman (103 votes), Jerome Garris (103), Marjorie Edwards (87) and Annie M. Helton (66) rounded out the field of Rich Square Commission candidates.
Conway voters returned their entire town board to office, as each candidate ran unopposed. Mayor Willie T. Barrett earned another term, receiving 46 votes. For Town Commissioner, Gail C. Wade (42 votes), Lokie W. Majette (41), Walter Lee Duke Jr. (40), Willie G. Simmons (38), and Stewart W. Woodard (36) won the favor of voters.
Jackson also favored the incumbents as Karin Clements (50), Mary Ann L. Crawley (49), and Jim Gossip (48) were each reelected as Town Commissioners.
The same held true in Lasker where Mayor Dick Collier (19 votes) will be joined again on the governing board by incumbent Town Commissioners Stevie Flythe (19 votes) and Charles Manness Daughtry Jr. (17).
There were three seats open for Lasker Town Commissioner. The third seat was earned by write-in candidate Joan Lassiter with seven votes.
In Seaboard, Geraldine Jerman Langford topped a three-candidate race for mayor. She collected 127 votes followed by Mark Dawson (51) and Bobby Rice (25).
Former District Court Judge Alfred Kwasikpui was the top vote-getter (153) in a seven-candidate field for three seats on the Seaboard Town Commission. Also winning a seat were George M. Jerman Sr. (89 votes) while a tie exists for the third spot between Laquitia Barnes and Virginia Crocker-Nelson, each with 73 votes. That tie may be broken next week when the Northampton County Board of Elections conducts its mandated canvass of all votes cast.
Rounding out the field of candidates for the Seaboard Commission were Freddi Diane Gallimore (64), Linwood Fenton Clark (60), and Christine Decarlo Moody (24).
Severn voters favored the incumbents with Mayor George McGee (25 votes) along with Town Commissioners Eloise Martin (24), Paige Pinnix (24), Tony Herman (23), Royal Parker Watson Jr. (22) and Joseph Troy Holloman (21) reelected.
In Woodland, David L. Cooper (60 votes) and Brian K. Christison (56) won the two open seats on the Town Commission. Catina Jackson’s 43 votes placed third.
Garysburg Mayor Roy Lee Bell has earned another term in office with 69 votes. He was unchallenged in his reelection bid.
All five incumbent Garysburg Town Commissioners were also unopposed on Tuesday’s ballot and each earned another term in office. That group was Lola S. Ausby (67 votes), Semiko N. Jacobs (66), Iris F. Williams (66), James M. Mayo (65), and Woodrow W. Harding Jr. (64).
In a three-way race for Gaston Mayor, Alice Patrick Delbridge topped the field with 71 votes. Jason Moore and write-in candidate Deborah James collected 44 and 41 votes respectively.
Two seats were open in this election cycle on the Gaston Board of Commissioners. They were earned by Franklin L. Manning (88 votes) and Tony Hux Sr. (83). Rounding out the field of candidates were Donald W. Connoer (72), Betty J. Powell (51), and Della Johnson (18).