One-Vote Mayoral Race Settled As Residency Challenge Withdrawn

KENLY – Keith Davis has officially been cleared to take office as Kenly’s next mayor following a razor-thin election and a contested residency challenge.

The special-called meeting of the Johnston County Board of Elections on November 19 marked the resolution of a race decided by a single vote. Following a recount, Davis, a current town council member, narrowly defeated incumbent Mayor H.L. “Tooie” Hales, 90 to 89.

Three days after Election Day on November 8, former Mayor David Grady filed a formal protest alleging that Davis was not a resident of Kenly but lived 200 miles away in Georgetown, South Carolina, where he serves as a pastor. Grady argued that Davis was therefore ineligible to serve as mayor or on the town council. The board initially voted 5–0 that probable cause existed to hold a formal hearing, which was scheduled for November 19.

At the November 19 hearing, Elections Director Leigh Anne Price informed the board that Grady had withdrawn his protest on November 18. The board voted to accept the withdrawal, effectively ending the challenge and allowing Davis to assume office.

During public comment, Davis’ wife, Monica Davis, addressed the allegations, calling them defamatory and misleading. She clarified that she never taught at North Johnston High School, as Grady had suggested, but had retired from her local government job in Johnston County in October 2014 and occasionally works part-time in Smithfield. She also affirmed that she and her husband have been residents of Kenly since 1985 and that temporary absences for travel or vacation do not affect their residency. Monica Davis described Grady’s claims as “hearsay” and questioned why he had not contacted the family directly to verify the facts.

Former Mayor Grady did not attend the hearing.

With the residency protest withdrawn, Keith Davis, who won the election by just one vote, is now officially cleared to take office as Kenly’s next mayor, bringing an end to the contentious and closely watched mayoral contest.

—
This story has been updated