Town seats remain unfilled after vote canvass

Published 6:41 pm Friday, November 15, 2019

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WINDSOR – Following the canvass, or the determination by the Board or Elections that all votes from the Nov. 5 municipal election have been counted and tabulated correctly, two Bertie County municipalities still have unfilled town commissioner seats.

In Kelford, Kenneth Ray Cain tied incumbent Wayne Bland for the fifth and final commissioner seat with 23 votes each. According to Board of Elections Director Sheila Holloman, Bland has requested a recount, and notice will be sent out once Bland’s formal request has been received in writing at the Board’s office. Should a tie remain after the official recount, lots will be drawn to determine a winner.

Wade “Tim” Emory, John “Timmy” Eaton, Jim T. Harrell, and newest town commission member Randy Robtoy were all elected during the Nov. 5 election balloting.

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Meanwhile, in Colerain, there were two seats available to fill unexpired terms on their town board. Thadd Perry was elected to one of the seats with 16 votes. However, it was expected the other seat would have to have been filled by the top write-in vote-getter, as no one else had filed for the seat.

Of the nine write-in votes cast, Donald Sumner received the most with five votes, but the Board of Elections determined he was ineligible to serve because of his residence. The remaining four votes went to John Harrell (2), Ann Sawyer (1), and Tommy Brown (1).

Holloman said because of the disqualification, the Colerain town commissioner’s post will remain vacant until the remaining commissioners caucus together and make a selection of someone to fill the remaining seat.