The retirement of two local Registers of Deeds left contested primaries in Bertie and Hertford counties Tuesday.

Annie F. Wilson, a veteran employee of the Bertie County Register of Deeds office, won election to succeed Belinda White as the top person in the office. She easily defeated challenger Evelyn Wilson-Lee to earn the Democratic nomination, according to unofficial results.

There is no Republican challenger in the General Election.

Wilsonwon 11 of the 12 precincts inBertieCounty. Her biggest victory came in One-Stop voting where she earned 657 votes compared to only 290 for Wilson-Lee.

Wilsonalso won big inWindsor1 where she earned 483 votes against 235 for her opponent.Wilsoncaptured Colerain 1 (134-47), Colerain 2 (283-95), Mitchells 1 (102-48), Mitchells 2 (123-46), Merry Hill (138-53), Roxobel (189-56), Snakebite (159-37),Windsor2 (165-42), Woodville (148-52) and Whites (142-58).

Wilson-Lee captured only one precinct, edging her opponent in Indian Woods by a vote of 45-42.

“I want to express my gratitude to the citizens ofBertieCountyfor your interest and vote. I did not achieve this victory alone,”Wilsonsaid. “I am ever so grateful to my coworkers, family and friends for their help. During my campaign, I met many people who were supportive and helpful and to them I am appreciative.

In my campaign I promised I would continue to seek ways to preserve historic and current records and to keep abreast of developing new technology that will keep the office in the 21^st Century,” she added. “I will uphold this promise.”

InHertfordCounty, the Primary tally is less clear, although Melanie Storey appears to have avoided a runoff and claimed the spot.

Currently, Storey holds 40.92 percent of the vote. To avoid a runoff she needs to have 40 percent plus one vote after official tabulation occurs next week.

Storey claimed victory in nine of the county’s 13 precincts with the other four going to current Deputy Register of Deeds Elvira M. Spiers. Storey garnered a total of 2,002 votes while Spiers was second with 1,442. Finishing third was Deborah Morrison with 899 votes and then Gilda Stephenson Robertson with 550.

Storey edged Spiers in One-Stop voting with a total of 574 votes compared to 535. Morrison had 318 and Robertson 147.

On Election Day, Storey claimed her largest victory in Ahoskie 1, Ahoskie 2 and Millennium. She carried Ahoskie 1 with 270 votes while Spiers, her closest challenger had 73. In Ahoskie 2, Storey had 206 votes and Spiers was second with 74. In Millennium, Storey had 103 votes while Morrison was second with 25 ballots cast in her favor.

Storey also wonComo(56 votes), Harrellsville (110),Murfreesboro1 (213),Murfreesboro2 (107),Union(86) and Winton (86).

Spiers won four precincts with Ahoskie 3 being her largest margin of victory. There Spiers received 119 votes with Morrison second at 68. Spiers also won Bryantville with 59 votes, Cofield with 50 votes andSt. Johnwith 84 votes.

Morrison nor Robertson were able to carry a precinct.

The four-woman race was prompted by the retirement of Hertford County Register of Deeds Kathleen Wright.

Storey was out of town on a work-related conference and was unavailable for comment.