Hoggard, Horton advance to November

Published 4:18 pm Friday, March 8, 2024

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Two political veterans – one from Bertie County; the other in Hertford County – posted wins in Tuesday’s Primary.

L.C. Hoggard III of Windsor and John Horton of Ahoskie each earned the Democratic nomination to seek the office of commissioner in their respective home counties during the November General Election. Neither faces opposition in November.

Hoggard, who previously served three terms as a Bertie Commissioner and is currently serving as a member of the Windsor Town Commission, topped Nicole Outlaw in Tuesday’s Primary.

According to the unofficial results in the District 1 Commissioners race, Hoggard received 1,239 votes (61.86%) compared to 764 (38.14%) for Outlaw.

Hoggard built a 646-339 lead during the Early Voting period. On Election Day, he was named on 590 ballots while Outlaw received 422 votes.

Each candidate received three votes via Absentee By Mail.

The District 1 seat has been held since 2012 by Ronald Wesson, who chose not to seek reelection.

Bertie’s turnout for the Primary was just over 25 percent as 3,180 of its 12,644 registered voters went to the polls.

Meanwhile, Horton, a two-term incumbent, was facing two challengers for his District 1 seat on the Hertford County Board of Commissioners.

The unofficial results from that race saw Horton collect 1,242 votes (56.43%) compared to 650 votes (29.53%) for former Murfreesboro Councilman James (B.J.) Futrell Jr. and 309 votes (14.04%) for political newcomer Carnissa Vann Melton.

Horton built a big lead during the Early Voting period where he was named on 639 ballots. Futrell and Melton collected 227 and 120 votes respectively during Early Voting.

On Tuesday, Horton was the leading vote-getter in all but two of Hertford County’s 13 precincts. He won by wide margins in Ahoskie 1, Ahoskie 3, St. John, Union, and Winton.

Futrell carried two precincts: Murfreesboro 1 and Como.

Voter turnout in Hertford County was 23.11 percent (3,184 of its 13,775 registered voters cast ballots during the Primary Election).

All results from Tuesday’s Primary will become official next week when the Boards of Election in both counties conduct their Canvass.

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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