Jones takes win in close race for Pine Knoll Shores mayor

Although the apparent losing candidate in the Pine Knoll Shores mayoral race has congratulated the winner, he said he will wait for next week’s official results and may even ask for a recount if the vote tally remains close.

Ted Lindblad, who chose to run for mayor instead for his incumbent seat on the town board, lost by four votes to Ken Jones, according to unofficial election results from the Carteret County Board of Elections.

“I did congratulate Mr. Jones and wished him the best of luck,” Lindblad told The Daily News late Tuesday night. “But it was close, and I plan to talk to the Board of Elections and find out more about the recount process.”

Three-term mayor Joan Lamson did not seek re-election. Jones, who defeated Lindblad 304 votes to 300 with one write-in vote, said he is “cautiously optimistic” about the results.

If the vote count sticks, and Jones said he thinks the numbers will hold, he said he plans to look at what has been started, but not finished, by the out-going board and work on wrapping those things up.

“Then we will press on with the people’s agenda because the taxpayers deserve it,” Jones said.

The top priority on that list should be beach management, said Larry Corsello, who won one of the three open seats for town commissioner. Bonnie Peters and Vincent Larson did not seek re-election, and Lindblad chose to run for mayor instead of defending his commissioner seat.

Pine Knoll Shores must comply with regulations imposed by a contract with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of a beach nourishment project. Those regulations include having 11 public beach accesses and parking.

“We have to meet the requirements,” said Corsello, a retired electrical engineer. “We have the accesses squared away, except maybe four that we need to work through.”

John Halada, the highest vote getter in the commissioner race, agreed. He had 445 votes compared to Corsello’s 427 and Larry Kacmarick, who received 371. Doug Browne lost his bid for a commissioner seat with 301 votes, according to unofficial results provided by the Carteret County BOE.

Halada, a former engineer and current lawyer, said it is time for Pine Knoll Shores to put the transition period of moving to a different type of government behind them. Three years ago the town went from a mayor/commissioner form of government to a town manager/mayor and commissioner type of rule.

“The roles have now been defined and we are ready to move forward,” Halada said.

Contact Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read his blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.