Winners in judge race, congressional elections, school board contests

Kevin Ellis, The Gaston Gazette
·5 min read

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Davis wins Superior Court judge race

Republican Justin Davis cruised to victory, beating Democratic Superior Court Judge Jesse Caldwell IV in one of the few local partisan races in Gaston County this election.

Davis had 60% of the vote to Caldwell's 40% with all precincts reporting, based on unofficial results.

"I am honored and humbled by the support of Gaston County," Davis said. "As your Superior Court judge, I will serve with integrity and fairness and uphold the Constitution and protect the rule of law."

Gov. Roy Cooper had appointed Caldwell to the Superior Court bench in June 2021 after Caldwell's father, Jesse Caldwell III, reached the mandatory retirement age of 72 and after having served 28 years as a judge in Gaston County.

Davis served one term on the Gaston County school board, representing the Southpoint Township. He chose to run for judge rather than a second term on the Board of Education. Davis also serves as a partner in the largest law firm in Gastonia, Mullen Holland and Cooper.

Superior Court judges are elected to terms of eight years.

Both Davis and Caldwell live in Belmont.

Gaston County voters elect three new school board members

Josh Crisp
Josh Crisp

Josh Crisp and Tod Kinlaw easily won election to the Gaston County Board of Education in the two of five races contested.

Newcomer A.M. Stephens also won election to the Riverbend Township seat without opposition after incumbent Kevin Collier did not seek re-election. At large member Dot Cherry and Gastonia Township representative Lee Dedmon did not face opposition in their re-election bids to four-year terms.

Crisp, the director of the Regional Emergency Services Training Center at Gaston College, won 65% of the vote to retired Gaston County Police sergeant Glenn Bratton's 34% of the vote. Crisp will replace Steve Hall, who was defeated in the GOP primary for Gaston County Board of Commissioners by Cathy Cloninger. Hall could have sought a second term on the school board, but instead backed Crisp.

"Thank you to the citizens of Gaston County for the support," Crisp said. "I look forward to serving and making Gaston County Schools a great place for students and teachers."

Kinlaw, who works in Drywall sales, beat out four other candidates to win the South Point Township seat.

Kinlaw won 47% of the vote while none of his opponents won more than 24.1% of the vote. His opponents were, listed in order of how the finished in the race: Joe Green, Lisa Smith, Michelle Hughes, and Nate Seedorf.

"Thank you to all of the voters of Gaston County for believing in me," Kinlaw said. "I am looking forward to serving and making sure the future of Gaston County Schools works to be the best in the state. I will be the best ambassador for students and teachers."

Jackson victory puts Democrat represent Gastonia in Congress

Jeff Jackson kicks off congressional campaign in Gastonia by stopping by Rankin Lake Park to speak to and greet people Monday evening, March 28, 2022.
Jeff Jackson kicks off congressional campaign in Gastonia by stopping by Rankin Lake Park to speak to and greet people Monday evening, March 28, 2022.

For the first time in decades, a Democrat will represent much of Gaston County in Congress.

Republican Pat Harrigan carried Gaston County by a wide margin, but it was not big enough to overcome his deficit to Democrat Jeff Jackson in the Democratic-learning area of Charlotte.

Jackson had just more than 58% of the vote to Harrigan's 42% across the district with 69% of the vote in. In Gaston County, Harrigan had 61% of the vote with 31 of 39 precincts reporting.

"Tonight’s victory is in a new district — offering an opportunity for a new start and a new set of expectations,” Jackson said. “It’s the honor of a lifetime to be chosen to serve the people of North Carolina’s 14th District in Congress, and I'm looking forward to using this office to do important things for the people who live here.

“If I do this job well, not only will we be checking things off the to-do list around our district — but I'll raise your expectations for those who hold elected office. That’s the leadership North Carolina families deserve," Jackson said.

The 14th U.S. House District includes about two-thirds of Gaston County, from Gastonia east. But about two-thirds of the total district resides in Mecklenburg County, which leans heavily Democratic.

Jackson has some ties to Gaston County. He worked for former Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell from 2011 to 2014 as an assistant prosecutor. Jackson left his job in Gaston County when former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon left office after being charged with taking bribes, which led to Dan Clodfelter, a state senator at the time, being appointed mayor. Jackson filled Clodfelter's position in the state Senate.

Patrick McHenry wins

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry won his 10th term in Congress, and returns to represent a part of Gaston County for the first time since the 2020 election.

McHenry had 72% of the vote to Democrat Pam Genant's 28% with 75% of the vote in.

McHenry will represent about a quarter of Gaston County, including Bessemer City and Cherryville, and all of Cleveland County. The district also includes all of Alexander, Burke, Catawba, Iredell and Lincoln counties, and parts of Caldwell and Rutherford counties.

In Cleveland County, McHenry won 69% of the vote to Genant's 31%. Gaston County's precincts had yet to report as of 9:11 p.m., but McHenry had built a large lead in early voting.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Winners in judge race, congressional elections, school board contests