The Vance County Board of Elections ruled Tuesday afternoon that Henderson mayoral candidate Greg Etheridge may remain on the October ballot. Etheridge’s residency was called into question, but the board ruled in his favor during a hearing that began at 4 p.m.
Both Etheridge and challenger Sara Coffey, also a candidate for mayor, were present for the hearing, which lasted more than an hour. Coffey said she plans to appeal to the state board of elections; state law requires that appeals be made within 10 days of the local decision. The state board will decide whether to hear the appeal or uphold the local decision.
Etheridge and three sitting City Council members are competing for the office of mayor. Mayor Eddie Ellington announced earlier that he would not seek re-election. Melissa Elliott and Jason Spriggs are the other mayoral candidates rounding out the field.
The city’s nonpartisan municipal elections will be held on Oct. 10.
Early voting begins Sept. 21 and continues through Oct. 7, and Vance County Elections Director Melody Vaughan said the early voting site again will located at the Dr. Andrea L. Harris Operations Center on Beckford Drive.
The hours for early voting are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Saturday, Oct. 7 hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition to the mayor, candidates are vying for four seats on the Henderson City Council. Ward 2 incumbent Mike Rainey faces challengers Sam Seifert and Janice Ward, and four newcomers are in the race for the Ward 1 seat. Geraldine Champion, Symia Crews, Clementine Hunter and Corey Pearson are on the ballot for Ward 1, a seat currently held by Marion Brodie Williams, who did not seek re-election.
In two at-large races, Kory Franklin, Michael Venable and Michelle Wood are on the ballot for Ward 3 and George Daye, Lora Durham and Tami Walker are on the ballot for Ward 4.