A former Jacksonville police chief, previous councilman and a newcomer are all headed to serve on the Jacksonville City Council following the results of the Tuesday election race.
In the at-large race for two seats on the council, Michael Yaniero led with 1,588 votes and was followed by incumbent Cindy Edwards who received 1,559 votes. Newcomer Amity Holland lost the race with 899 votes.
“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity and the trust placed in me by the citizens of Jacksonville,” Yaniero said. “I wish to thank all the people who helped me, including family, friends, campaign staff and mentors.
“I am looking forward to working with the rest of the county and city staff to address key community issues.”
Edwards said she is also grateful for the outpouring support from voters, volunteers and friends.
“And congratulations to each candidate who had the courage to enter the race and the character to run a clean campaign,” she said. “We had a very civil and community-focused race.
“We’ve made progress over recent years and there is more to do. Thank you for the opportunity to keep serving our citizens and moving our city forward.”
Former council member Jerome Willingham won the Ward 1 seat on the Jacksonville City Council, beating incumbent Brian Jackson in Tuesday’s municipal nonpartisan election.
Willingham took just over 58% of the votes, with 126 to Jackson’s 90.
“I’m excited, and I thank the voters,” Willingham said. “I think that we presented a vision for our city. I think we were very specific in things I wanted to accomplish, and I think those things resonated.”
A new face will take a seat in Ward 2 with Mickey Smith leading the race with 685 votes, followed by Fernando Schiefelbein with 383 votes and Brad Brown with 89 votes. Smith won the race with a commanding lead, taking in 59.10% of the vote.
“This was definitely a God moment, but the victory belongs to the people, every neighbor that believed that the impossible could happen,” Smith said. “They voted me, now I’ve got to answer the call, and I want them to hold me accountable. That’s the only way I’m going to learn more.”
Smith also thanked her husband Will Smith Jr., who could be heard celebrating in the background on election night.
In Holly Ridge, Pete Parnian was elected mayor with 597 votes. Dorothy Royal received 350 votes in the race.
“I am honored and humbled by the votes of the citizens, and I look forward to serving them as the mayor for the next four years,” Parnian said.
The Holly Ridge Town Council fills one of its three open seats with incumbent Pamala Hall beating out Richard Royal for the unexpired term, with 580 votes to his 337.
Incumbent Gregory Hines and newcomer Brandon Longo won the other two council seats with 449 and 440 votes, respectively. They were followed by Joseph Correia with 424 votes, Jeff Barton with 372 votes and Rena Bragg with 120 votes.
North Topsail Beach has a new name at the helm, with Richard Grant taking the mayoral race over fellow Alderman Mike Benson. Grant received 172 votes to Benson’s 91 votes.
“I’m very fortunate and want to thank the North Topsail voters for their confidence in me,” Grant said.
On the North Topsail Beach Board of Aldermen, incumbent Tom Leonard was unseated, after receiving 120 votes. Taking the three open seats were Larry Strother with 190 votes, Kip Malcolm with 178 and write-in candidate Mark Barefoot with 134 votes. Curtis Anders came in last place with 90 votes.
The town of Richlands’ leadership remains mostly the same, with all races being uncontested Tuesday. Mayor McKinley Smith and Aldermen Tom Brown, Marilyn Bunce, Kent Painter and Paul Connor will return to their seats alongside Alice Betts.
Betts led the aldermen race, with 46 votes.
In Swansboro, Mayor Bill Justice takes back his position uncontested, and the Board of Commissioners will have two new members with Wayne Herbert and Tim Vannoy leading the race with 518 and 507 votes, respectively. Incumbent Jeffery Conaway took the final spot, with 409 votes. Incumbents Pat Turner and Joe Brown fell short with 281 and 151 votes, respectively.
All election results are unofficial until the canvass of the votes on Nov. 14.
The canvass ensures votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed. During the canvass, election officials consider challenges to votes and process provisional ballots and absentee ballots received after Election Day.
The canvass process is required by law and is held after every election.