T. J. ROYAL
Four more municipal incumbents filed for re-election at the Edgecombe County Board of Elections Tuesday in Tarboro.
Princeville Mayor Delia Perkins filed Tuesday for her seat, as did Rocky Mount Ward 2 Councilman Reuben Blackwell, as well as Pinetops Commissioner Joyce Tolson and Whitakers Commissioner Esterine Gary Pitt.
Perkins said she filed to run for her second term on Tuesday "because I had other things I have to do," and didn't want to wait until later to register.
A challenger has until July 17 at noon to challenge incumbents for their seats, but Perkins said she was not thinking about that Tuesday. She said that her focus "between now and November" is to help Princeville upgrade its status and its services for its residents.
"It's a democratic process, and people need to express themselves" by running for office and voting, Perkins added.
Rocky Mount Ward 2 Councilman Reuben Blackwell also filed Tuesday, a day after Ward 3 Councilman Lamont Wiggins threw his name up for re-election as well.
Blackwell said the last time he filed for re-election four years ago, he "waited a little late" to get his name in, so he wanted to do it earlier this year.
Asked how he felt about having a possible challenger in Ward 2, Blackwell said he would respect the candidate and "run my race. If not, I'll taken nothing for granted, and focus on serving my constituents."
Along with Perkins and Blackwell, Pinetops Commissioner Joyce Tolson and Whitakers Commissioners Esterine Gary Pitt filed for re-election Tuesday.
Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris, who filed Monday, said he has usually been "one of the first people to file" since he first ran for town council back in 1981.
Macclesfield Mayor Mike Keel said he filed Monday for re-election because he knew he would be out of town this week, traveling in Mississippi.
Conetoe Commissioner Wilson Jones said he decided to file Monday because he "happened to be in" Tarboro and went by the Edgecombe County Administration Building to the Board of Elections.
Municipal election filing ends at noon on July 17. All municipal elections, except for Rocky Mount's, will be held on Nov. 3. Rocky Mount's municipal election is Oct. 6.
