After serving Johnston County residents for 20 years, Commissioner Allen Mims of Clayton failed to win the Republican Primary for reelection on Tuesday. Mims was defeated by Clayton Town Councilman Robert “Butch” Lawter who ran an aggressive campaign for the District 7 seat, which represents Clayton and western Johnston County on the Board of County Commissioners.
In unofficial results, Latwer received 60 percent of the vote total – 4,938 votes to 3,333 for Mims.
Lawter has served 4 terms on the Clayton town council. During his campaign Lawter said he felt his his greatest strength was his compassion for Johnston County and its people.
Lawter is a member of Greater Heights Methodist Church in Clayton. He was recognized as the 2016 Volunteer of the Year for Town of Clayton Downtown Development Association.
Mims had served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners from 2010 to 2012 and Vice Chairman from 2008 to 2010.
Lawter will face Democrat Gracie Wells Chamblee of Clayton, a substitute teacher in Johnston County Public Schools, in the November general elections for the District 7 seat.
