Kinsey bests Bottcher in Ward 4

Johnnie Ray Kinsey, the bodybuilder who had to battle three challengers and his own demons to win a city election, was ultimately successful Tuesday night, besting Joan Bottcher in a runoff to be named alderman for New Bern’s 4th Ward.

Kinsey got 50.9 percent of the vote, or 340 votes, to Bottcher’s 318 or 47.6 percent, according to unofficial totals from the Craven County Board of Elections. Those numbers will be certified in a few days, after canvassing.

But Kinsey didn’t need official numbers to start celebrating the end of a campaign season marked by challenges to his character and to his patience.

“I give God the glory and thank all my supporters and constituents for staying with me,” Kinsey said Tuesday night

Kinsey was the last candidate standing in what was a hotly contested race for the seat now held by Jay Mattingly. After Mattingly announced in June that he would not seek re-election, four people filed for his slot. Though Kinsey got the most votes in a contest that included Bottcher, Carmen Andersen and Koni Hanish, the bodybuilder and businessman didn’t have enough of an edge to be declared the outright winner of the municipal election. He needed “50 percent plus one” of the vote, but claimed 40 percent to Bottcher’s 30 percent on Oct. 6.

 Bottcher, who has served on the council of Franklin Township, N.J., soon requested a runoff because she hoped to return to politics.

Once the results of other municipal races showed that the New Bern Board of Aldermen would be almost entirely new, Bottcher pledged to be the “watchful eye” and voice of experience on a governmental body populated largely by political newcomers.

But Kinsey was undaunted.

“It’s about making a plan and sticking with the plan,” he said. “You just keep your eye on the goal.”

Ultimately, however, Kinsey’s most formidable opponent was not Bottcher, but was the candidate himself.

Campaign season would bring to light again a 35-year-old crime committed by Kinsey when he was a teenager. Kinsey spoke freely about being involved in a robbery when he was 17, but had not said that he was convicted of shooting merchant Douglas Cumbo during that 1970s robbery. Later, Kinsey said he “misspoke” when he said during a candidate forum that he had been “exonerated” of the crime.

Still, Kinsey’s troubles were not past.

 Cumbo’s daughter, Paula Carrier, challenged Kinsey’s claim that he had recently volunteered in the Craven County school system. Upon an investigation of school-system records from the last two years, administrator Gerald Johnson issued a letter in October saying that no principals or documents from Craven County Schools supported Kinsey’s claims of volunteerism.

Last week, Kinsey called a news conference to say that he thought campaign season had made people forget the “good side” of him.

“It’s just something that you have to stick with, to meet challenges,” he said. “Now we can focus on listening to people’s needs and trying to help them.”

Kinsey, and the rest of the city’s newly elected leaders, will be sworn in to office next month.

Nikie Mayo can be reached at 252-635-5665 or nmayo@freedomenc.com.

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Ward 4 alderman

Johnnie Ray Kinsey 340

Joan Bottcher 318