The filing period for the 2019 municipal elections in Johnston County ended at Noon today (Friday) at the Johnston County Board of Elections Office. Five candidates waited until the final day to file.
The filing period opened on July 5th. When the filing period ended today, contested races had developed in 6 of the 11 municipalities in Johnston County.
Smithfield
Smithfield Mayor Andy Moore filed for reelection and will be unopposed in November.
Three council seats are up for election, all 4 year terms. Councilman Emery Ashley had previously announced he would not seek another term.
Incumbent councilmen John Dunn and Steve Rabil both filed for reelection. James Snyder and former councilman Roger Wood also filed. The four candidates will face off in November for the three at-large seats.
Selma
Selma voters will see a contested race for mayor and the town council this fall.
Incumbent Mayor Cheryl Oliver is being challenged by former councilman William Overby.
In the race for two town board seats held by Tommy Holmes and Mark Peterson, both incumbents filed for another 4 year-term. They will have three challengers: Roger Diegele, Byron McAllister, and Joseph Scarboro.
Clayton
Three candidates have filed for two seats on the Clayton town board.
Incumbent commissioners Jason Thompson and Robert Satterfield are being challenged by Avery Everett.
Mayor Jody McLeod is unopposed.
Four Oaks
Three town commissioner seats are up for election this year in Four Oaks. Four candidates have filed.
Incumbents Andy Hardy, Vic Medlin, and Carles Surles are seeking another term. Surles was appointed in 2018 to fill out the unexpired term of Commissioner Chris Haley who resigned.
The three commissioners will have opposition from Walter Rabon.
Kenly
A contested race has developed in Kenly with four candidates filing for three seats on the Kenly Town Council.
Incumbents Keith Davis and Bobby Peele both filed for reelection. Also filing are Lawanda Neal and Stephanie Redmon. Councilman Keith Currie did not file for another term.
Incumbent Mayor Bonnie Williamson has no opponent.
Wilson’s Mills
The small town of Wilson’s Mills has a lot interest in two council seats. Five people have filed.
Incumbents Johnny Eason and J.C. Triplett will face three challengers. Joe Parrish, Carolyn Dobbin and Fleta Byrd have also filed for the town council.
Archer Lodge
Incumbent Mayor Matthew Mulhollem finds himself unopposed after the 2019 filing period ended Friday.
Three council seats are up for election with three candidates.
Incumbents Clyde Castleberry and J. Mark Jackson filed for new terms. Herbert Locklear did not file for election. However, James Purvis III did file for the seat held by Locklear.
Benson
There will be no contested races in Benson this year. Benson Mayor Jerry Medlin is unopposed for reelection.
All three incumbent town commissioners are unopposed. District 1 commissioner Cassandra Stack, District 2 commissioner Dean McLamb, and District 3 commissioner Max Raynor are without opposition.
Micro
Incumbent Mayor Walter “Jay” Warren will return for another term unopposed.
Three town commissioners will return without opposition. No one filed to challenge incumbent commissioners Russell Creech, Jay Langston, and Kevin Worley.
Pine Level
Mayor Jay Holt is unopposed for another term.
Four seats are up for election on the Pine Level Town Council. Incumbents Greg Baker, Jimmy Garner and Phil Pittman filed for reelection. Commissioner Karen Anderson did not file for reelection, however William Hubert Radford filed for the seat currently held by Anderson.
Princeton
Princeton Mayor Don Rains will not have any opposition in 2019. No one filed to challenge the incumbent.
Town Commissioners Walter Martin and Mike Rose are also unopposed.
Scottie Lee Brown was the only candidate to file for an unexpired seat on the Princeton town council.
