Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WINDSOR – John Trent has changed his mind about seeking another term as a Bertie County Commissioner.

The current board chairman announced last year that he would not seek another term during the 2024 election cycle.

“I realize what I said last year. I was dealing with some personal family issues at that time, which have since cleared up,” Trent told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald this morning (Wednesday).

“I’ve also received many, many phone calls and talked face-to-face with many of our county citizens who implored me to run again,” Trent continued. “Therefore, through much deliberation and prayer, I’ve decided to seek another term in office.”

Trent, who is registered Unaffiliated, recently submitted his filing paperwork to the Bertie County Board of Elections. To complete that process, Trent needs to submit a petition containing the signatures of 503 registered Bertie County voters who support his reelection. That number of signatures represents at least 4% of all registered N.C. voters within the county as of January 1, 2024.

He has until March 5 to submit that petition to the Bertie Board of Elections. That board must then verify all signatures. Once that occurs, Trent becomes an official candidate for the District IV seat on the county board of commissioners.

His name will not appear on the March 5 Primary ballot. As an unaffiliated candidate, Trent moves straight to the November 5 General Election where he will face Vivian B. Saunders, a Democrat.

“We’ve got a lot going on right now in Bertie County with industrial expansion, more things planned at Bertie Beach, and a plan to build a new E-911 Center. I want to continue to be a part of moving our county forward,” Trent said.

“I want to give our citizens a choice of who they want to lead them as we make decisions to allow for economic growth for all,” he added.

First elected in 2012, Trent is currently his third term as a Bertie County Commissioner. He formerly served as Chairman to the Bertie County Board of Commissioners in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022.