Use The N&O Voter Guide to research candidates running in Johnston County elections
Welcome to The News & Observer’s Voter Guide for the 2021 Johnston County municipal elections.
We have reached out to all of the candidates running for mayor, town board and town council, and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire.
This election features mayoral contests in several towns, including contested, three-candidate races in Kenly and Wilson’s Mills. In Clayton, there are six candidates running to fill three seats on the town council, and in Selma, eight candidates are competing to fill two seats.
This year’s election is also seeing a number of former office-holders returning to the ballot seeking another term in office.
In Selma, former Council members Tommy Holmes and William Overby are competing against six first-time candidates to fill just two vacant seats.
Both David Grady and Tooie Hales have previously served as mayor of Kenly, and now they’re in a three-person race to become the town’s next mayor.
The names of candidates who responded to our questionnaire are hyperlinked below so that N&O subscribers can read their answers to our questions about local issues such as stability and town growth, their top priorities, and what life skills and experience make them the best candidate.
The early voting period runs from Oct. 14 to Oct. 30. Registered voters can vote early at the Johnston County Board of Elections, 205 S. Second Street, Smithfield. One stop early voting will be available during the early voting period between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, and on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you’re voting by mail, you also have the option of returning your absentee ballot to the board of elections in person. Requests to vote by mail must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The last day to register to vote was Friday, Oct. 8, but if you live in one of the municipalities below that has an election this year, you can visit the board of elections during the early voting period and complete same-day registration.
More information about early voting, registration, polling places, and requesting an absentee ballot can be found at johnstonnc.com/joconcelections. You can also contact the Board of Elections at 919-989-5095 or elections@johnstonnc.com.
If you have any questions or comments about this list, please contact reporter Avi Bajpai at abajpai@newsobserver.com.
The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
ARCHER LODGE TOWN COUNCIL (Two seats)
Teresa Bruton*
Mark B. Wilson*
* incumbent
BENSON MAYOR
Jerry M. Medlin*
* incumbent
BENSON TOWN COMMISSIONERS AT-LARGE (Three seats)
William Neighbors*
* incumbent
CLAYTON TOWN COUNCIL (Three seats)
Alsey J. Gilbert
Bob Satterfield
Michael (Mike) Sims
* incumbent
FOUR OAKS MAYOR
Vic Medlin
FOUR OAKS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (Two seats)
John G. Hatch*
Mike Hines*
* incumbent
KENLY MAYOR
Thomas Wood
KENLY TOWN COUNCIL (Two seats)
Trinity Henderson*
Mark Smith
* incumbent
MICRO MAYOR
Walter (Jay) Warren, Jr.*
* incumbent
MICRO TOWN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (Three seats)
Russell Creech*
Marty E. Parnell*
Kevin Worley*
* incumbent
PINE LEVEL MAYOR
Jay Jeffrey Holt*
* incumbent
PINE LEVEL BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (Four seats)
Greg Baker*
Jimmy F. Garner*
Phil Pittman*
William H. (Bill) Radford*
* incumbent
PRINCETON MAYOR
Donald B. Rains*
* incumbent
PRINCETON BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (Two seats)
Ashley Boyette
Michael Edwin Holmes
Broderick Robinson*
Jimmy L. Tart, Jr.
* incumbent
SELMA MAYOR
Byron McAllister
SELMA TOWN COUNCIL (Two seats)
Tommy Holmes
Kayla Jentes-Sagester
Bruce McKay
William Overby
Amy W. Whitley
WILSON’S MILLS MAYOR
Fleta A. Byrd
Shawn Fritz
Phillip R. Wright*
* incumbent
WILSON’S MILLS TOWN COUNCIL
Tim Brown*
Randy N. Jernigan*
David J. McGowan*
* incumbent
