Edgecombe towns to elect new leaders

Seven towns in Edgecombe County will hold races for board and mayoral seats in the Nov. 3 election.

County Board of Elections officials reported Thursday that approximately 285 county residents in Princeville, Pinetops and Tarboro have shown up for no-excuse, one-stop voting. Election officials said early voting particiaption has shown a “fair” turnout thus far, and they expect more residents to participate before Election Day.

Tarboro

Ten candidates are vying for four seats on Tarboro’s town council. Incumbent Commissioner Buck Price will face challengers Gerrelene Walker and John Wooten for the Ward 1 seat. Challengers Ervin Guill, Candis Owens and Raymond Parrisher will square off against incumbent Ward 5 Commissioner John Jenkins, while Taro Knight and Roy Gray will vie for the Ward 7 seat.

Ricky Page is running uncontested for the Ward 3 seat; Mayor Donald Morris also is running unopposed for re-election.

Princeville

Five candidates are competing for Princeville’s mayoral post. Incumbent Mayor Delia Perkins will face challenges from Priscilla Everette-Oates, Freddie Bell Sr., Theresa Richardson and Tyrone Hopkins.

Two seats on the town’s board of commissioners are up for grabs. Incumbent Commissioner Carolyn Sharpe is defending her Ward 4 seat against challenger Calvin Sherrod, while Isabelle Purvis-

Andrews will compete against incumbent Ward 3 Commissioner Ann Carney Adams for her seat.

Whitakers

Three candidates are on the ballot for three open commissioners’ seats. Those candidates include incumbent commissioners Betty Bullock and Esterine Pitt and newcomer Ronald Gibson.

Speed

Five at-large seats on the town’s board of commissioners are up for grabs. Incumbent Commissioner Shirley Brownell is the only candidate on the ballot for a seat. No candidates are on the ballot for town mayor.

Pinetops

Three candidates are vying for two open seats on the town board of commissioners. Incumbent Commissioner Joyce Tolson and challengers Suzanne Coker and Hubert Burress are running for the two at-large seats.

Macclesfield

Two candidates are on the ballot for two open seats on the town’s board of commissioners. Incumbent Commissioner R.B. Owens and challenger Dennis Sanderson are running for the seats.

Mayor Mike Keel is running unopposed for re-election.

Conetoe

Eight candidates are on the ballot for election to four open seats on the town board of commissioners. Incumbent commissioners Leon Wynn, Johnny Repass, Wilson Jones and Milton Goff Jr. are vying to retain their seats against challengers Richard Harris, Linda Meeks, Jesse Petteway and Delane Weathersby.

Mayor Linda Ingram will square off against challenger Linda Covolo Jordan for the post.

Early voting began on Oct. 15 and runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday until Oct. 30 at the Edgecombe County Administration Building Auditorium. The last day for early voting is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Early voting only is available for Tarboro, Pinetops and Princeville elections.