Clinton voters returned their mayor to his post, and those casting ballots in assorted other municipal races across Sampson County chose a slate of incumbents and newcomers as their leaders in an election Tuesday that saw relatively low voter turnout.
Despite a push by some around the city to forge a write-in mayoral bid for outgoing Dist. 1 City Councilman Daniel Ruggles, longtime Mayor Lew Starling handily captured his seat, receiving 381 votes, or 76 percent, to only 116 write-ins (23 percent), presumably for Ruggles, though exactly who those write-ins actually are won’t be known until later this week.
Three City Council seats — Dist. 1, Dist. 3 and Dist. 5 — were uncontested, with Joel Rose taking the seat being vacated by Ruggles and Wanda Corbett and Mayor Pro Tem Marcus Becton returning to their respective seats.
In Garland, current Mayor Austin Brown will move to a commissioner spot, with 99 votes. Ralph Smith Jr., switches from a commissioner’s post to being elected the town’s new mayor. Smith garnered 139 votes. There were seven write-ins. Also elected in Garland were Barbara Peterson, with 119 votes, Carolyn Melvin with 106 votes and Antonio Garcia with 73 votes. Shavonia West takes the final seat on the board, garnering 82 votes. Brown and West are filling unexpired terms for the next two years. The other three have a four-year term.
In the western end of Sampson, Roseboro newcomer Bridgette Henry, an educator, was the top vote-getter with 102 votes followed by Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Bennett with 79 votes. Challenger Gilbert Owens came in third with 62 votes. Only two seats were up for election.
Based on unofficial results, Salemburg will return two incumbents, Dickie Walters and Joel Faircloth Jr. to their seats. Walters received 71 votes and Faircloth garnered 55 votes. The third seat could go to a write-in candidate, if all 42 write-ins were for one person. That information is not yet available. Other candidates running for the three open seats included Kimberly Tew Howell, 26 votes; William Agostini,Jr., 25 votes; and Allison Caudell, 15 votes
Votes will not be official until Friday’s canvass.
See all the results and comments from the winners in Saturday’s Sampson Independent or come back here, clintonnc.com, in seven days and read the full story.