Write-in votes stir up Swansboro race

SWANSBORO — Write-in candidates made a strong showing in Swansboro’s municipal races, but the candidates with names on the ballot look to come out on top when the votes are made official next week.

Incumbent Mayor Scott Chadwick won his uncontested race with 210 votes, but dropped 104 votes in write-ins.

Chadwick said he was pleased to have four more years as mayor.

“I have done exactly what I said I would do,” he said.

Town Commissioner Jim Allen, who did not file to run again for a seat on the town board, conducted a write-in campaign in the mayor’s race. However, until results are made official Nov. 10, it will remain unknown how many of the write-in votes he received, said Phil Keagy, a former Swansboro Commissoner.

Keagy along with John Lister, who did not file to retain his seat on the board, conducted write-in campaigns for the open commissioner seats.

With Lister’s and Allen’s seats open, SD “Junior” Freeman and Larry Philpott ran uncontested. Freeman received 185 votes and Philpott garnered 183. Write-in candidates received 212 votes, according to unofficial results provided by the Onslow County Board of Elections.

“I had citizens of Swansboro come up to me on a daily basis saying they weren’t happy and asking what to do,” Keagy told The Daily News late Tuesday night.

He said those residents were “upset with the way things were going” in Swansboro and wanted a change. He told them to write him and Lister in on the ballot.

“We knew one person couldn’t do it alone,” he said. “So we got together and decided to run a write-in campaign together, Jim for mayor and John Lister and I for commissioner.”

Chadwick said he was “disgusted” with Keagy, Lister and Allen’s write-in campaign.

“I think individuals tried to take advantage of the fact that it was an off year election,” he said.  “They spread false information to voters that I was responsible for higher water bills because of my involvement with (the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority). That's not a way to run a campaign.”

Chadwick said he thinks Philpott and Freeman were going to emerge as winners when all the votes are counted.

Philpott said he knew there was always the possibility of write-in candidates and respected the process.

“The No. 1 issue facing this town — and had something to do with the write-in situation, I suspect — is the differences we have with ONWASA,” he said.

Swansboro and ONWASA must resolve their differences so the town can return to normal business, Philpott said.

Keagy said the voter turnout was encouraging and speaks volumes about how Swansboro residents are beginning to care about what happens in their town.

“It was a win-win situation for us,” he said. “It would be great if one of us gets elected, but we made a statement. I hope those that are elected take heed.”   

Daily News staff member Mike McHugh contributed to this report. Contact Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read his blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.