Ron Hester Announces Bid For Selma Mayor, Wants To Be ‘A Voice For The People’

SELMA, N.C. – Longtime Selma businessman and community leader Ron Hester has announced he is running for mayor, saying he wants to restore trust in town government and give residents a stronger voice.

Hester, who has lived continuously in Selma since 1995, said he wants to follow in the footsteps of his late father, Charles Hester, who served two terms as mayor.

“I want to be a voice for the people of Selma,” Hester said. He said he will “take time to listen” and believes many residents currently do not feel they have a voice with the town administration.

Hester said transparency and accountability would be among his top priorities if elected.

“If elected, one of my top priorities during my first year would be to restore transparency and accountability in Town government,” Hester said. “I would work with the Town Council and staff to make the Town’s finances easier for residents and businesses to understand, while also establishing clear expectations for communication and accountability.”

Hester said residents should be able to understand how their money is being spent and why town leaders make certain decisions.

“I want residents to know where their tax dollars are going, how decisions are being made, and why those decisions are in the best interest of Selma,” Hester said. “I would also work to improve employee retention and morale by listening to Town employees and addressing the reasons behind the high turnover.”

Hester said rebuilding confidence in town government would be his goal during his first year in office.

“My goal for the first year would be simple: rebuild trust in Town government by listening to our residents, respecting our businesses and employees, and being transparent about the decisions we make,” Hester said.

Hester is a 1977 graduate of Smithfield-Selma High School and has longstanding family and business ties to Selma.

His grandparents operated the old Red & White grocery store in Selma for many years. Growing up in a military family, Hester lived in several communities in the United States and abroad but frequently returned to Selma.

Born in 1959 at Camp Lejeune, Hester lived at various times in Baltimore, Maryland; Gretna, Louisiana; Middletown, Rhode Island; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Hester later followed his family into business.

Beginning in 1993, he worked alongside his father through several family businesses, including Southern Partners, Hester Properties and Barbetta LLC. Following his father’s death in February 2019, Hester assumed ownership and responsibility for the businesses.

Today, he manages multiple state buildings and other properties across North Carolina.

Hester is president of the Selma Lions Club, serves on the Board of Directors of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Johnston County Arts Council and serves on the Activate Selma board.

He and his wife of 11 years, Heidi Wall Hester, a local certified public accountant, are members of Princeton Church.

During the Christmas season, Hester is also a familiar face at local events, where he enjoys playing Santa Claus.

Hester said his campaign will focus on his business experience, community service and longtime connection to Selma. He said he wants to follow his father’s example of helping people while making sure residents believe their concerns are being heard.

Hester is running for mayor during Selma’s 2027 municipal election cycle. His name will not appear on the November 2026 general election ballot.