Spriggs mulls mayoral run

Oct. 29—HENDERSON — Should Eddie Ellington give up his mayoral seat next year, he could have a potential successor.

Henderson City Councilman Jason Spriggs changed his page's name on Facebook to "Jason Spriggs 4 Mayor" and laid out his resume including a record of his votes and what believes to be the forward-moving state of the city's fourth ward. Homes are being bought and repaired and streets and sidewalks are being improved, he said. To continue onward at the same rate, he wants a wider platform to make similar improvements across the city.

Spriggs has a campaign website already as well, which contains much of the same information. However, Ellington is yet undecided — it would be "premature" to make a decision right now, given he still has over a year in his current term. Spriggs noted that if Ellington runs, he won't. "There is still much work to be done with our longterm plans," the mayor said. "However, I am a believer in term limits and I will be at the end of this second term next December."

"Looking back through the years we are still struggling with some of the same issues and challenges that three of our senior council members have been dealing with for almost 20 years," Ellington continued.

When the time comes, he'll sit down with his political advisors and those close to him and "make an informed decision for the city's future and for [his] as well."

Spriggs represents Henderson's fourth ward, which he said has been "moving forward" — homes are being bought and repaired and streets and sidewalks are being improved. To continue onward at the same rate, he said he would seek more federal and state resources. During his tenure, Ellington has formed relationships with officials in Raleigh on both sides of the aisle, Spriggs explained. If he wins, he said he would expand on what Ellington has built.

He said a mayor is a city's "strongest lobbyist" — when the state or federal governments reach out to a city, they call the mayor. Should Spriggs run and win, he would seek more resources from higher echelons of the governmental ladder. Ellington is "the best representative for our city," Spriggs said. Spriggs announced his possible candidacy at the request of some city officials and other citizens, he said. Earlier this year, he ran for a Congressional First District seat as a Democrat but lost in the primaries. All the while, he said he "waved [Henderson's] flag."