Challengers claim Greene County mayoral races

Bobby Taylor unseated incumbent Sam Johnson to win the mayoral seat for the Town of Hookerton by a 30-vote margin Tuesday night in Greene County.

“I’ve felt very good from the beginning,” said Taylor. “People came to me and asked me to run. They weren’t satisfied with the way things have been going.”

Close to 70 percent turned out in Snow Hill to elect Dennis Liles, defeating Lorrine Washington by 58 votes.

“This says a lot for the people of Snow Hill,” Liles said. “They turned out to say how they feel about the town.”

Both of the new leaders expressed extreme appreciation for all the hard work, prayers and votes on behalf of their supporters.

Taylor, a Hookerton native, worked for the town for about 10 years, beginning in 1960, as town superintendent and town policeman.

“I took care of the utilities and everything on the outside, and had a real good person helping me,” Taylor said, referring to an assistant he had when he was superintendent.

Unhappy with the way things were being run, he left that job and did other work in Hookerton and elsewhere.

“But I always paid my taxes in Hookerton,” he said. He now is retired from 16 years in construction.

Taylor is ready to tackle several issues, including the waste water system that was built 12 years ago and still isn’t working, the economy and attracting new residents.

“I’ve got to get in there and see what we are financially committed to and what we’ve got to work with,” Taylor said. “To do anything, you’ve got to have money, but you’ve got to pay your bills, too.”

Liles is a Snow Hill native who has been on the town board since 2007, including a term as mayor protem.

As mayor, he plans to continue building on the town’s growth, including stabilizing the town’s finances and revamping Main Street.

“I’d really like to make sure all the buildings are occupied,” he said.

Even if he had not been elected, he would have continued in his term as town commissioner.

“I want to be a part of Snow Hill, and a supportive factor,” Liles said.

Nancy S. Saunders can be reached at 252-559-1079 or at nsaunders@freedomenc.com.

Greene County Results

Hookerton Mayor — Bobby Taylor

Hookerton Commissioners — Doris Williams Jones, Robert “Bert” Matthews

Snow Hill Mayor — Dennis Liles

Snow Hill Commissioners — Rebecca “Becki” Scarborough, R.L. “Bobby” Taylor Jr., Geraldine “Pat” Shackleford

 Walstonburg Mayor — Susan McKeel Casper (uncontested)

Walstonburg Commissioners — Fitz McKeel Jr., Brenda Moore Haymond, Ronald Turner,  Ronnie Wayne Rouse and Robert Hicks (uncontested)

Maury Sanitary Land District Board — Triva Sheppard Mason, Julian Jones Jr. and Henry Pasour (uncontested)