Town Council candidates optimistic

W. TERRY SMITH

All the candidates in Tarboro's upcoming election Tuesday are optimistic.

And why not? Each one reports their campaigning is going well.

Of course, only one person will be elected mayor and one person will be elected to Town Council in Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7. Fourteen are running.

In Ward 1, incumbent Buck Price is facing challenges from Gerrelene Walker and newcomer John Wooten.

"I feel pretty good." said Price, 84. "I've worked harder than before. It's gonna be close, I'm pretty sure."

Four years ago, Price defeated Walker by 21 votes.

"I think things are going pretty well," said Walker, 62. "I have some people working for me in the neighborhoods."

A woman has never been elected to Tarboro's Town Council. Ward 1 is mostly female (421 to 313).

It's also mostly white (376 to 347). Wooten is black.

"I have been going door-door," he said, "and I have a pretty good feeling."

Wooten, 64, said one neighbor took him to a football game the other day, but he's also lost a couple campaign signs to vandalism.

Rick Page, 63, is unopposed in Ward 3 because Danny Hayes declined to run after 14 years on council. Page has posted signs and campaigned.

"I just want people to know that I am serious about the job," he said. "I'm not taking anything for granted."

In Ward 5, incumbent John Jenkins is seeking a fourth term.

"I feel good about it," said Jenkins, 65. "People have told me they will vote for me."

Jenkins, 65, was working on a fourth letter to voters Wednesday night.

Ray Parrisher, 55, the former Ward 2 councilman who is one of three people challenging Jenkins, got a direct mailing to the post office Thursday.

"I feel good," Parrisher said. "I feel extremely good about my chances. It's going smooth."

Candis Owens, 64, also is in the Ward 5 race. She has been going to door-to-door with her dog Millie seeking to become the first woman elected to Town Council.

"I think the campaign is going great," she said. "I am very well pleased. I have enjoyed meeting people and have had a good time."

Dickie Guill will be on the Ward 5 ballot, but he said, "I have had some personal things come up" and had to drop out.

He declined to endorse anyone. "I think every one of them would make a good council person," he said.

Incumbent Roy Gray is facing opposition from Taro Knight in Ward 7.

"It seems to be going really good," said Gray, 56. "I'm getting a good response from folks."

Gray was Ward 7's representative from 1990-2002 before he stepped down to concentrate on the ministry. Today he is pastor of Cedar Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Williamston.

Knight, 40, had worked for Gray in previous campaigns, but believes, "At this time, I'm the best candidate."

The campaign is going well," he continued. "Roy and I have kept it clean like we said we would. We have concentrated on the issues and not personalities. Whoever gets the most voters to the polls will win. I intend to keep working."

Mayor Donald Morris also is unopposed, but he has still posted signs and taken out ads in the newspaper.

"I want people to know. I appreciate them," he explained.

Morris, 66, is completing his 14th year as mayor and 28th on town council.

Tarboro's mayor is paid $665 and council members $526 per month.

Text Only