Plymouth
With four new members of council and a new mayor on the municipal government doorstep in the Town of Plymouth, change may — or may not — be in store.
Former Councilwoman Crystal Davis moved into the mayor’s post by outpolling Brian Roth and Mark Sexton to launch what she describes as a “new chapter” for Plymouth. She promises “to lead with transparency, compassion and purpose.”
Plymouth voters – the 35 percent who cast ballots — selected newcomers Steven Brown, Jerry Rhodes and Micah Weathersbee to the six-person council, along with Kim Williams, who previously served a two-year term on council 2021-2023. Unseated from council are Mary Ann Byers, Mary Nixon, John Tharps and, of course, Davis, who becomes mayor.
Incumbents Donsenia Teel (Ward 1) and Danny Wobbleton (Ward 2) also secured new terms in races that featured multiple candidates.
The new lineup gets sworn into office in December.
Both Weathersbee (Ward 1) and Williams (Ward 3) spoke with hopeful optimism following the November 4 Election Day. Rhodes (Ward 2) spoke with greater moderation, but pledged to work toward solutions to crucial problems. Wobbleton pledged to remain dedicated to his community service.
Teel did not respond to multiple phone calls and texts and the Beacon was unable to contact Brown.
“I think we have a diverse board,” Weathersbee observed the day after the election. “I look forward to working with everyone and think we will make good choices for the betterment of the town.”
Williams spoke similar words, saying, “I’m excited. I think this council can come together and change things.”
Rhodes — a former county manager and DSS director in Washington County — says it will be crucial for Plymouth’s new representatives to coordinate goals.
“I’ve talked about the things I want to pursue and I still have that list,” he says, “It will be important to work together and focus on what’s best for everyone, to keep everyone safe, spend wisely and be transparent to help people understand what is going on.”
Outgoing Mayor Roth wished the Town of Plymouth well.
“I sincerely wish the town of Plymouth, the community and its citizens the very best,” he said.
Mark Sexton, who finished third in the mayor contest, says he has no regrets.
“It was a good experience for me. I got in the race because of the way Lou Manring and Mr. (Wayne) Pittman were treated by town council. I wish the new mayor well.”
Results collected in the early voting period and the Election Day turnout, must be certified before becoming official. Seventeen provisional ballots were cast (15 on Election Day). Those ballots are not part of the vote total until certified following a ballot canvass November 14.
While 17 votes could change the outcome of Plymouth’s Ward 3 race, it would not impact the mayoral outcome or the outcome in Wards 1 and 2.
In Ward 3, both John Shelton and Byers could surpass Brown if enough provisional votes are certified in their favor.
Unofficial (until certified) vote counts are as follows:
Mayor — Davis 364, Roth 301, Sexton 173;
Ward 1 — Weathersbee 150, Teel 132, Cornise Harvey Debrew 94, Gale O’Neil 87, Tharps 67;
Ward 2 — Rhodes 118, Wobbleton 115, Terri Pitt 95, Karol Sanders Freeman 73;
Ward 3 — Williams 102, Brown 91, Shelton 88, Byers 85, Tristan Spencer 55.
Two candidates are elected to serve in each of the three wards, while a single mayor is elected
Roper/Creswell
Two new council representatives won seats in the Town of Roper to join returning Mayor Denise Blount on the governing board.
Sandra Faye Arnold and Shawanna McCray ran unopposed for the seats left vacant when Raemona Jackson and Charles Sharp chose not to seek reelection. Arnold tallied 83 votes, while McCray earned 71. Arnold and McCray join incumbents Rona Norman and Melvin Norman.
Blount was unopposed, as well, for mayor and totaled 69 votes.
In Creswell, incumbents Ron Ambrose and Brenda Logan ran without opposition and returned to office as Town of Creswell Commissioners.
Jamesville
The Town of Jamesville has a newly-elected mayor, while a familiar cast of commissioners returns to office.
Betty Moore Williams won the mayor’s post convincingly, outpolling William More by a 55-15 tally to succeed Craig Tucker, who did not seek reelection.
Jamesville’s entire five-person Board of Commissioners won reelection after running without opposition.
Returning for new terms are Kim Cockrell, Willis Williams, Rachel Craddock, Preston Craddock and Mary Allen.
Columbia
Columbia voters cast 32 votes for Nancy Jean Lambert to elect her for a first term as alderman in the Tyrrell County town.
Lambert joins Bryan Owens, W. Hal Fleming and Lynda Mastronardo, who also secured reelection as unopposed candidates.
Sandra Owens, who was appointed as mayor following the death of James Cahoon, also returns for another term after running without opposition for the mayoral post.
