Friday, May 09, 2008
A former city councilman has filed for the special election for the vacant Fourth Ward council seat.
Johnnie Walton, 60, of 401 New York Ave., filed his candidacy for the seat late Wednesday, elections officials said.
A physical education teacher at H.L. Trigg Community School, Walton represented the 4th Ward for two terms beginning in 2004. He was defeated by Volanda Watts in a runoff election last year.
Walton is the second candidate to file for the special election. Leonard Bartlett also filed Wednesday.
Neither Walton or Bartlett could be reached for comment Thursday.
Both are seeking a council seat which was held by former councilman Kirk Rivers. The Pasquotank Board of Elections ruled in March that Rivers is not an Elizabeth City resident.
Rivers, who is appealing the ruling, recently changed his voter registration to 706 Hampton Drive, which is in the 4th Ward. He is eligible to file to run in the special election, but has yet to do so.
Filing for the special election ends Friday, May 16. One-stop voting begins on June 5 and the election will be held June 24. If necessary, a runoff will be held July 22.
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Comments
By 2Wise4U
May 10, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
To ~ Keep it Real,
Kirk lost his seat because he lied. You keep it real and quit saying this is about race. OMG, when are you ever going to stop crying about RACE. GET OVER IT!!!!! For Real though look around and ask yourself why is it that BLACKS have soooo many problems..Oh, let me guess it is because blacks were treated sooo badly...blah, blah, blah. You should be thankful to whites for the oppotunties you do have. There is slavery still going on in Africa. I will NEVER NEVER NEVER apologize to ANYONE for what other people (BLACK & WHITE) did a long, long, long time ago.
Has it ever dawned on you or any other black the more that you use the race card the more problems you create for blacks. We are sick and tired of hearing it. Go to counseling and learn to deal with "Life is not Fair" and you have to accept what you cannot change and change the things you can.....YOU CANNOT CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Keep it Real
May 10, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
If race wasn a issue, then Kirk would have never lost his seat.
By What?
May 10, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Please don't pretend to speak for anyone other than yourself. People of one color do not all have the same needs, wants, values, or concerns. I want the best candidate for me regardless of race. We all need to open our minds a little.
By 4th Ward Resident
May 10, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
As a fourth ward resident I welcome diverse candidates. Nobody should vote based on race alone. That stance will only further propagate the divide between black and white. Please, vote on integrity, intelligence, experience, and the issues... anything but race. We must put forth a better example for our youth and we need to start right now!
By JJ
May 10, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
I don't believe that it is quite so astounding that two African American men are actually running against each other. I would hope that the most important thing in this election would be to choose the best person for the job based on qualifications and not race.
By This is CRAZY!
May 10, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
I cant believe we have two African American men runnin against each other. We all know that in the end Kirk is going to add his name, and then a White person will add there name, and we will have to divide OUR (black) votes, and the White person will WIN! Are we thinkin men. I live in the 4th Ward, I dont want to have to deal wit some mess this term. So Rivers, Walton and Bartlett yall need to get together and pick one person to Run!
By This is CRAZY!
May 10, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
I cant believe we have two African American men runnin against each other. We all know that in the end Kirk is going to add his name, and then a White person will add there name, and we will have to divide OUR (black) votes, and the White person will WIN! Are we thinkin men. I live in the 4th Ward, I dont want to have to deal wit some mess this term. So Rivers, Walton and Bartlett yall need to get together and pick one person to Run!
By This is CRAZY!
May 10, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
I cant believe we have two African American men runnin against each other. We all know that in the end Kirk is going to add his name, and then a White person will add there name, and we will have to divide OUR (black) votes, and the White person will WIN! Are we thinkin men. I live in the 4th Ward, I dont want to have to deal wit some mess this term. So Rivers, Walton and Bartlett yall need to get together and pick one person to Run!
By great news
May 9, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Good luck on your campaigns, gentlemen; make Elizabeth City and the 4th ward proud once again!!
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