THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508050282
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
Maybe incumbents are too tough to beat after all.
The ``throw the bums out'' fervor that swept a new wave of inspired citizens into every level of elected government last fall apparently didn't reach Elizabeth City, where the mayor and two sitting council members will face no opponents Oct. 10.
Filing for municipal elections closed at noon Friday.
Mayor H. Rick Gardner, finishing his second year in office, will be the first city mayor to run unopposed since John H. Bell Jr. had that luxury in three consecutive elections through 1977.
``It's a relief not to have any opposition,'' Gardner said from his home Friday afternoon.
``It certainly takes away the excitement of a race,'' he added, but after a four-way contest in 1993, ``I'm satisfied to sit this one out.''
Also waltzing back into office will be 3rd Ward Councilman Jimi Sutton and 4th Ward Councilwoman Myrtle Rivers.
There will be races for the two council seats being vacated by their current members.
Long-time 2nd Ward Councilman W.L. ``Pete'' Hooker made good on his pledge not to run again. Vying for that seat will be former City Councilman Zack Robertson and homemaker Linda Barrett.
The only candidate to file Friday in the otherwise quiet Pasquotank County Board of Elections office was 1st Ward hopeful Paul A. Bryant. Bryant, who heads the ``Upward Bound'' program at Elizabeth City State University and ran unsuccessfully for the council seat two years ago, joins real estate agent Donald Yates Cherry and physician Randall Sherman in a quest for Councilman David P. Bosomworth's chair.
Bosomworth, the Finance Committee chairman, is stepping down because he's moving outside city limits.
The only person who had publicly considered running against Gardner, Councilwoman Anita Hummer, met with the mayor Friday morning but apparently was considering a mayoral run almost to the last minute.
``I haven't made up my mind yet,'' Hummer said on her way into the city hall building at 10:10 a.m. ``How much longer do I have?''
At 11:30, Hummer was across the street at the elections board office, passing out statements announcing she wouldn't run. Even then, she was wavering.
``I've got another one typed up in case I change my mind,'' she half-joked.
The mayor votes only to break ties. Hummer said she does aspire to the job and plans to run in 1997.
The low number of filings will help new Pasquotank County Board of Elections Supervisor Glenda Crane ease into her job. Crane replaced former Supervisor Catherine Perry in the spring.
``You are all being so nice because it's my first election,'' Crane told Hummer. MEMO: ELIZABETH CITY CANDIDATES
Mayor
H. Rick Gardner (R), Gardner Pointe.
1st Ward
Paul A. Bryant (D), Herrington Road.
Donald Yates Cherry (D), Raleigh Street.
Randall Sherman (R), Rivershore Road.
2nd Ward
Linda Barrett (D), West Burgess St.
Zack D. Robertson Jr. (D), West Main Street.
3rd Ward
Jimi Sutton (D), Roanoke Avenue.
4th Ward
Myrtle R. Rivers (D), Magnolia Street.
EDENTON CANDIDATES
Mayor
Alton G. Elmore, Queen Anne Drive.
Roland H. Vaughan, Queen Anne Drive.
At-large
Steve Biggs, North Broad Street.
Marina S. Crummey, Bond Street.
1st Ward
Jimmy Alligood, Hewes Street.
2nd Ward
Roy L. Harrell, South Oakum Street.
Don Latham, East King Street.
by CNB