Stantonsburg election candidates - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

16 August 2007 — Elections in Stantonsburg this year could see an interesting twist to the normal process. Two commissioner seats are on the ballot, as well as the mayor’s seat. However, a third commissioner slot could become available because a current board member, whose seat is not on the ballot this year, is running for mayor.

Bill Edmundson, who has served on the board for the last two years as a commissioner, is running for the position of mayor. Mr. Edmundson is running unopposed; however, someone could campaign to win the seat as a write-in candidate.

Mr. Edmundson has been a resident of Stantonsburg for 37 years, and lived a few miles out of town in Greene County for many years before. At 65, he works as a calibration technician in Wilson. He and his wife Marie have two children and three grandchildren.

In addition to his service to the town board, Mr. Edmundson is also involved in several other organizations around town. He is a member of Stantonsburg Emergency Medical Services, the Masonic Lodge, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He also attends Lebanon United Methodist Church.

Mr. Edmundson said he felt compelled to run for mayor, though his term as a commissioner was not yet up. He knew that current Mayor Roland Gardner would be stepping down, and he said he felt it was very important to continue the efforts he began.

“My decision to run reflects on the good work Mayor Gardner started,” he said. “But I also wanted to search for an alternative electrical source, and to have a part in the execution of the Community Development Block Grant.”

Mr. Edmundson would also like to see through the upgrades that have begun on the town sewer and water systems, and to search for an alternative technology for wastewater treatment.

But primarily, he said, Mr. Edmundson seeks to let his faith guide him as a leader of the town.

“I intend to solicit God’s help and trust in God’s help in guiding us in all that we do,” he said.

Five other candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for the commissioner’s seats.

Incumbent Billy Bardin, who is finishing his first term as a commissioner, hoping to be elected to his second term as a commissioner.

Hubert Tyson, the other incumbent on the ballot, is seeking to be elected for the fourth time. Mr. Tyson was appointed to the board to fill an open spot, and has since been re-elected three times.

Mr. Tyson is 60 years old, and has lived in Stantonsburg for all his life, save the four years he served in the United States Air Force.

He is retired from Firestone. Before working at Firestone, he was the first black fire inspector for the City of Wilson. Mr. Tyson graduated from Speight High School in 1964, and attended Fayetteville State University until he was drafted into the military. Instead of taking the draft, Mr. Tyson joined the United States Air Force, and was active duty for four years, including a year in Vietnam, and inactive for two. He also earned an associates degree for fire inspection from Wilson Technical College in 1979, and received his ordination as a minister in 1996.

He and his wife Bettye have two children and two grandchildren. He has served as the minister at Paul’s Chapel AME Zion Church for seven years, and works as a radiologist transporter for Pitt County Memorial Hospital. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Mizpar Shrine Temple in Goldsboro.

Mr. Tyson said he chose to run for re-election because he wants to see through projects the board has begun.

“I want to work on a board that is progressing forward,” he said. “We need to be of the caliber that will think of the town and it’s future, rather than just the present problems.”

Tommy Darden is one of three newcomers to the race for commissioner’s seats. Mr. Darden is 66 years old, and has lived in Stantonsburg all of his life. He is a graduate of Stantonsburg High School, and also took courses at East Carolina University and Guilford College. Mr. Darden is retired from Merck Pharmaceuticals. He has one daughter and two grandchildren.

Mr. Darden is a member of Faro United Methodist Church, and is member of the Lions Club. He said he hasn’t been an active member in a few years, but plans to get back into it.

He said he decided to run for a seat because he is hoping to change a few things for the people of Stantonsburg.

“I’ve seen some pretty bad calls, and some other things that need passing,” he said. “For example, the tax increase – I don’t see where that’s fair to anyone.”

Another newcomer to the race is Ken Horne, a 30-year-old branch manager for BB&T. Mr. Horne was born and raised in Stantonsburg, where he lives with his wife Tinika and his two sons. He is an Assistant Vice President at the BB&T in Stantonsburg, and attends Artis Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Horne sees being on the town board as a way to extend the involvement he encourages in the community through his work.

“What I do at work is to help the community, and with doing that at work, I wanted to be more active and participate in the function of the town,” he said.

The last newcomer is H. Powell Dew, Jr. Though he has only lived in Stantonsburg for eight months, he said he is impressed by the town and wants to do his part to help it grow and flourish.

Mr. Dew is 45 years old, and serves as the pastor for Fremont Missionary Baptist Church. He moved from Fremont this year after marrying his wife, Sharon. He has a daughter with his first wife, who passed away after a battle with cancer two years ago. Sharon also has a daughter.

He completed his undergraduate at UNC in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in business, and received his masters in divinity from Campbell University in 2004. He also intends to go back to school this fall to pursue his doctorate in ministry.

Mr. Dew said when he lived in Fremont, he always wanted to get involved in local politics, but felt that his position as a pastor in the same community could make things difficult. After moving to Stantonsburg, he said that he really wanted to get involved on the board.

“I feel that I have the business experience and the life experience to be a good representative,” he said. “I’m not running against anyone, I’m running for the seat.”

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