DATE: Thursday, November 6, 1997            TAG: 9711060479

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: HERTFORD                          LENGTH:   66 lines

REID WINS INCUMBENT COUNCILMAN'S SEAT HERTFORD ELECTS FIRST BLACK TO TOWN BODY. HE DOWNPLAYS RACIAL ASPECT.

Political newcomer Horace Reid unseated a 12-year incumbent in Tuesday's elections to become Hertford's first black council member.

Reid downplayed the racial aspect, saying only that ``some of the voters were looking for a change.''

But Reid's pastor, a strong Reid backer and former candidate himself, saw it differently.

``They were saying, `What's the problem, you don't necessarily have to have a black on board,' '' said the Rev. John London, pastor of Hertford Baptist Church. ``We put forth every effort we could to get him elected.''

London stumped for Reid from the pulpit, encouraging his congregation of 200 to make history, he said. Other community leaders, such as Winfall Mayor Fred Yates, also black, supported Reid.

``The timing was right,'' London said. ``The younger people of our race should be proud.''

Reid collected 275 votes, making him the top vote-getter among the three candidates vying for two open seats. Schoolteacher Sid Eley received 220 votes and businessman Erie Haste Jr., the incumbent, finished with 175. Of Hertford's 1,450 voters, white constituents outnumber blacks 797 to 648. The Perquimans County Board of Elections did not have a breakdown of black and white vote counts.

``A lot of whites had to vote for Reid, too,'' London said. ``This is a victory for everybody.''

``Mr. Reid is well liked and well respected in the community by both whites and blacks,'' said longtime Mayor John G. Beers. ``I still feel the main thing is the blacks wanted to have a representative on the board.''

Reid, director of the housing section of the Economic Improvement Council in Edenton, campaigned hard, going door to door and handing out dozens of brochures.

Reid said many people told him they didn't feel like they had a voice at City Hall.

``Some constituents weren't getting enough information,'' he said.

Hertford is a picturesque town sitting on the banks of the Perquimans River. Large antebellum homes line many of its streets. Though the population is only 2,277, the town faces many of the same problems as larger towns - finding jobs for its young people, high utility rates, and attracting good industries.

``Hopefully I can be a catalyst for some of that,'' Reid said.

London said the council had correctly sought to solve larger issues such as revamping the town's electrical system but neglected smaller issues such as sidewalks. The council rarely if ever sought federal funds, he said.

``Little things in this little town of Hertford need to be touched,'' London said. ``They don't see that.

``I believe with all my heart the public will have a better insight about what's going on,'' London said. ``We now have a person who will represent lower income people, black and white.''

By finishing third, Haste lost the seat he has held for the last 12 years and held for a total of 24 years. Haste said he was disappointed but not surprised.

``I knew Sid was going to run strong. He always does,'' Haste said. ``And I felt Horace would run strong.

``I'm confident with the representation we'll have,'' Haste said of Reid. ``I didn't win the election, but I'm not going anywhere.''

Haste, a real estate developer and owner of Hertford Hardware, plans to stay involved in city issues and continue to serve on county committees.

Reid and Eley will serve the next four years on the five-member board. KEYWORDS: ELECTION RESULTS HERTFORD COUNCIL RACE BLACK

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu