One new commissioner; one veteran commissioner; and one familiar face seeking to become Sheriff.

When the dust settled from Tuesday’s Primary election, Gates County voters favored political newcomer Ray Freeman III for Gates District Commissioner; incumbent Gatesville District Commissioner Jack Owens; and James (Gary) Ingram as the Republican nominee for Sheriff.

In a three-person race to replace retiring Commissioner Kenneth Jernigan, Freeman collected just enough votes (600, or 40.60 percent) to avoid a run-off against challenger and former Commissioner Marsha Faulk Langston (446 votes, or 30.18 percent). Lee (Moe) Brooks Jr. (432 votes) was also seeking the Gates District seat.

Owens had his hands full with challenger Thomas Langston, a political newcomer. Owens mustered 780 votes (54.51 percent) compared to 651 (45.49 percent) for Langston.

Ingram, a Republican who lost to current incumbent Sheriff Ed Webb in the 2010 election, now has the opportunity to avenge that setback as he defeated challenger Johnny Dwayne Wiggins, 254-to-80, during Tuesday’s Primary. Webb, a Democrat, was unchallenged in the Primary and moves directly to the November ballot.

In other Gates County races, Daniel L. Dickerson (883 votes) barely edged Cindy Smith Barber (875) to win the District 1 Board of Education seat. That seat will be open upon the retirement of current School Board Chairman Doug Lilley.

Two other School Board incumbents were unchallenged in the Primary – Glendale Boone of District 3 (1,372 votes), and Leslie S. Byrum representing District 5 (1,424 votes).

Incumbent NC House District 5 Representative Annie Mobley (3,655 votes) was defeated by current Hertford County Commissioner Howard Hunter III (5,236 votes). Hunter earns the Democratic Party’s nomination and moves to face Republican Sidney Pierce III of Gatesville in November’s General Election where the winner will represent Bertie, Gates, Hertford and Pasquotank counties.

In the race for District Attorney, Gates County voters favored Nancy Lamb (860) over Kathryn P. Fagan (431). Overall, Lamb won that District 1 race by tallying 6,245 votes compared to 2,006 for Fagan.