Canvass confirms Pamlico voters' choices

BAYBORO  — Tuesday’s official canvass of last week’s Pamlico County town elections confirmed what voters decided on Election Day.

Elections Supervisor Lisa Bennett said the canvass by the board of elections changed a few numbers, but none of enough significance to change any results.

The result of the closest race in the county — for the fifth board seat in Oriental — remained the same, with former commissioner Warren Johnson edging Harvey Hardison by two votes.

Bennett said that was the only race among nine towns that was subject to a recount, if Hardison requests one by 5 p.m. Thursday. Attempts to reach Hardison were unsuccessful Tuesday afternoon.

The Oriental commissioners race was the only one in the county contested on the ballot, with nine candidates for five seats. Along with Johnson, the new board includes another former member, Barb Venturi; incumbents Candy Bohmert and Sherrill Styron; and political newcomer Jennifer Roe.

Roe led the voting in Oriental, which had the highest voter turnout in the county at 48 percent. Oriental has the most registered voters of any county town, with 930, and 444 cast ballots.

Minnesott Beach, which had a contested board race because of announced write-in winner Dave Stewart, had a 34-percent turnout from its 415 registered voters. Stewart received 105 write-in votes.

Board members in three other towns were elected via the write-in — Harry Brooks in Alliance, Jim Sherwood in Vandemere and Theron Jones in Mesic. Each of those towns did not have enough candidates file for the seats available.

Countywide, just 23 percent of eligible voters came to the polls. There were 850 people who voted from an eligible pool of 3,740.

The lowest turnouts were in Bayboro, with 5 percent, and Grantsboro, with 6 percent.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com.

Pamlico municipal election turnout

Town, registered voters, ballots cast and percentage:

Alliance – 476 – 50 – 11 percent

Bayboro – 520 – 26 – 5 percent

Grantsboro – 477 – 28 – 6 percent

Mesic – 167 – 52 – 31 percent

Oriental – 930 – 444 – 48 percent

Stonewall – 196 – 35- 18 percent

Vandemere – 218 – 47 – 22 percent

Arapahoe – 341 – 26 – 8 percent

Minnesott Beach – 415 – 142 – 34 percent

Total – 3,740 – 850 – 23 percent.