Tag Archive for: #hendersonmayor

TownTalk: Elliott Wins Runoff For Henderson

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Henderson voters have elected Melissa Elliott to be the city’s next mayor, creating a historic moment on two fronts: The Mayor-Elect will be the first woman and the first Black to lead the city.

Tuesday’s runoff election was the last piece of the puzzle that provides a complete picture of city leadership; four City Council members were elected in the Oct. 10 nonpartisan municipal elections, but the mayor’s race was undecided until Tuesday’s runoff.

Traditionally, the new Council members and the mayor will be sworn in at the December meeting, which is set for Monday, Dec. 11.

As Elliott said in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday evening, she will only move one seat to the left in December; until she takes the mayor’s chair, she represents the Ward 3 at-large seat on the City Council.

New Council members elected on Oct. 10 include:

  • Ward 1: Geraldine Champion
  • Ward 2: Sam Seifert
  • Ward 3 at-large: Michael Venable
  • Ward 4 at-large: Tami Walker

Almost 10 percent more voters turned out for Tuesday’s runoff election than in the Oct. 10 municipal election, which included four City Council seats in addition to the mayor’s race.

As WIZS reported Tuesday night, Elliott got 1,527 votes (56.35 percent) to Etheridge’s 1,183 (43.65 percent).

Yesterday’s turnout was about 29 percent, compared with about 20 percent in the October election. A runoff was called for when no candidate received the 50 percent plus 1 vote needed to claim the win outright.

Middleburg re-elected its mayor to another term Tuesday. Ray Bullock was elected with 25 votes. He ran unopposed. Shirley Bullock got 18 votes, Hazel Baskett got 11 votes and Mamie Turner got 14 votes to fill three seats on the Town Council.

But Kittrell Mayor Jerry Joyner was upset in Tuesday’s election by Gene Pulley who got 16 write-in votes, according to information Wednesday from Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin.

Susan Pulley got 25 votes, Mary Jo Floyd got 19 and Robert Tunstall got 17 votes to fill the three City Council seats.

Cocklin said the election results remain unofficial until the canvass is completed on Nov. 17.

Find a link to all election results at https://er.ncsbe.gov/

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Melissa Elliott Makes History As First Female, First Black Mayor

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Henderson voters have elected Melissa Elliott as their next mayor, making her the first female and the first Black to lead the city.

Elliott, a member of the Henderson City Council, defeated political newcomer Greg Etheridge in Tuesday’s runoff election by 344 votes.

WIZS News called the race just before 8:30 p.m., an hour after the polls closed. Elliott garnered 1,527 votes, compared to Etheridge’s 1,183 votes from the city’s nine precincts.

Elliott joined WIZS News in the studio shortly after 9:15 p.m. to discuss the historic win.

“I’m elated…overwhelmed with joy,” Elliott said, of the election outcome.

She thanked her opponent for what she called a “high-spirited campaign,” and she thanked those who voted for her.

“I am a servant leader,” Elliott said, and she plans to serve the community at-large and all people.

“Everyone was so wonderful…so much encouragement,” she said. There were “so many people that wouldn’t allow me to quit. I’m thankful for this historic moment in time,” but she said she also looks to the future for the city.

When reached by phone after all precincts had reported, Etheridge said he was disappointed with the outcome.

“The voters have spoken,” he told WIZS News in a telephone interview.

He said he and his supporters handled themselves respectably during the campaign, but added that he hasn’t “seen a sense of urgency to have any plan whatsoever on how to make things safer (or) more affordable for anybody” in the city.

His vision for the city is still alive, he said. “How we accomplish it is just going to be a little different.”

Mayor Ellington Will Not Run For A Third Term

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Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington will not seek another term in the upcoming municipal elections.

On Friday, Ellington called his decision “bittersweet” but said after two terms as mayor, he looks to a new chapter in life.

“Holding on for too long leads to entrenched leaders, which diminishes new ideas and creative thinking,” Ellington said.

He said he vividly remembers his first days in office, and said he was “driven with passion and vision” for the city.

In his eight years as mayor, Ellington cited successes such as the $79.6 million expansion of the regional water system and the $600,000 renovation and expansion of the downtown fire station.

“We celebrate our successes but the let-downs can truly wear on you. I have seen and lived both sides of politics and it can be hurtful and hard not to take it personally,” he noted.

Being mayor of a city during the COVID-19 pandemic proved especially challenging, and Ellington said it’s a point of pride that he, with the assistance of City Manager Terrell Blackmon, “courageously and emotionally led us as a city and community through hard decisions of the COVID pandemic that touched us all.”

Ellington said it’s important to realize that problems must be faced if improvements are to be made.

“Looking back, I have devoted the past eight years and two terms to ensure a brighter future while establishing a broad range of relationships on the state and federal level across both sides of the aisle. Being the official ambassador and lobbyist for the City of Henderson I can proudly say I have ties and political courtesy with both governors past and present, as well as officials in Washington, DC who will answer the phone if I call. That goes a long way for us here at home. Coming from the business sector and often at times frustrated but knowing that government moves a lot slower, we have shared success with many goals and projects that gives us a promise for the days to come,” Ellington stated.

In addition to the projects noted above, Ellington shared some more projects that have taken shape during his time as mayor, including:

  • adoption of a new Comprehensive Land Use Policy
  • completion of the West End Urban Redevelopment Area Plan and the Flint Hill Neighborhood Strategy
  • new Water and Exercise Park on William and Montgomery streets
  • new Economic Development initiatives that led to the location of Mako Medical, M.R. Williams Frozen Food Expansion, new state-of-the-art Maria Parham Cardiac Catheterization Lab
  • support and vision for the new S-Line corridor
  • re-establishment of our NC Main Street Community Program
  • re-enacted the City Redevelopment Commission
  • the creation of the first city-wide Unified Development Ordinance
  • declared gun violence a public health crisis
  • implementation, along with Henderson Police Department, the new FLOCK system with neighborhood cameras and license plate readers

Remembering Former Henderson Mayor Robert Gill “Chick” Young, Jr.

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By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire

The local community was saddened to learn recently of the passing of Chick Young, former long-serving Henderson mayor, on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at the age of 84.

Young’s service to the office of mayor began in 1979 and continued for 24 consecutive years until 2003 when he decided not to seek reelection.

Young was born in Vance County in 1933 to the late Robert Gill Young and Helen Goodwyn Young. He graduated from Henderson High School, and later, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business administration.

Shortly after graduating college, Young joined the United States Navy, serving four years of active duty and 26 years in the Naval Reserves before retiring with the rank of captain.

Soon after returning to Henderson in 1960 to enter business with his father, Young opened a life and health insurance agency.

In addition to his business, Young was active in the community, serving as president of the Henderson Jaycees, chairman of the Henderson Recreation Commission, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation.

He also served on the Board of Directors and several committees of The North Carolina League of Cities. Upon his retirement, Young was presented The George Rose Watkins Jr. Citizen of the Year Award and was also presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the governor of North Carolina.

Young is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley Knott Young, two sons, three grandsons and three great-granddaughters.

Donald Seifert, a retired Henderson businessman, Vance Granville Community College Trustee and longtime friend, grew up with Young and remembers him fondly. “Chick loved his family, he loved his church, he loved his community and he loved his country,” said Seifert. “The fact that he served as mayor for as long as he did is evidence of his love for his community.”

George Watkins, past president of Rose Oil Company and community leader/advocate, remembers a man that was more than a friend, “Our families vacationed together for 48 years. He was more like a brother than a friend.”

In speaking on his tenure as mayor, Watkins explained that Young was a big support, along with the City of Henderson, in the building of the new H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library and the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.

In an on-air interview with WIZS, Seifert also mentioned Young’s support in the efforts to bring recreational opportunities to the area. “Chick was instrumental in bringing recreation to Henderson and in getting Fox Pond Park and the Aycock Recreation Center developed,” Seifert said.

Eric Williams, former City Manager, who served the majority of his tenure under Young, spoke on the impact Young had on others. “Chick stands out at the very top of the list of public officials that I have worked with,” Williams said. “He was extremely gifted at bringing people together.”

Williams stated that Young’s enthusiasm and love for the community were contagious. “He was the area’s biggest cheerleader. He was constantly promoting the history and vitality of his hometown,” said Williams.

Fellow former Henderson Mayor James D. “Pete” O’Geary, who served two terms, spoke of Young as a man of great integrity. “I met Chick in 1981 when I served on the City Council. I was always inspired by him and how he handled the office of mayor. He was so dedicated and set a great example for the staff at City Hall and the community,” O’Geary said.

Years later, when O’Geary ran for mayor and won, Young shared words of wisdom. “I’ll never forget the time he visited me at home after the election. He told me that the mayor is the number one elected official to this city,” said O’Geary. “He told me that I would set the example, not only for the City Council and staff, but for everyone. He said that the life that you live will be a life that people look at and remember.”

Dianne White, who worked as City Clerk with Young for 15 years, shared her thoughts on Young’s character. “He was highly respected by many organizations,” said White. “Our Mayor Young was approachable and helped many citizens. He will always be remembered kindly.”

Former Henderson City Attorney John Zollicoffer remembered Young’s easy-going and calming nature. “When he was mayor, people would come to the City Council upset about something and he would patiently listen and then reassure them on what he knew could be done, or if it couldn’t be done legally, he’d calmly explain why,” said Zollicoffer. “You could just see their anger dissipate. He was oil on the waters as far as calming people and viewing things in a rational light.”

Young’s friends and colleagues also remember a man that loved sports, especially golf, football and Carolina Tar Heel basketball. “He loved to play golf, especially in retirement, but only during the week. He saved the weekends for family time,” said Seifert.

Cam Ford, preacher of New Horizons Baptist Church in Oxford, was a fellow golfing buddy of Young. “I met some of the finest people and best friends of my life at Henderson Country Club and I would certainly count Mayor Young in that group,” said Ford. “I enjoyed getting to know him. He is the absolute epitome of a Southern gentleman.”

In remembering Young as a beloved mayor, businessman, community leader and friend, Watkins echoed the sentiments of many, “Chick was the best mayor that we ever had. I’m going to miss him.”

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at 2 p.m. at The Church of The Holy Innocents by the Rev. Donald A. Lowery. A reception will follow in the Great Hall of the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church of The Holy Innocents, 210 Chestnut Street, Henderson, NC 27536 or to the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center, PO Box 769, Henderson, NC 27536.

(The obituary provided by J.M. White Funeral Home contributed to this story.  The full obituary can be seen online by clicking here.)