McLean wins runoff, is city’s mayor-elect

Voters: Electric rates top issue

By Reggie Ponder
Staff Writer

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

After winning Elizabeth City’s mayoral runoff by nearly 400 votes on Tuesday, Roger McLean renewed his pledge to reduce electric rates, expand youth programs and bring jobs to the city.

McLean, who will be sworn in next month, told a crowd of supporters and well-wishers at Five Oceans Seafood Restaurant Tuesday night that he would work with City Council and all citizens of the city to accomplish the goals he had laid out during the campaign.

“This is not just me,” McLean said. “It’s all of us. We’re going to come together and we’re going to be the City of Hospitality.”

The unofficial vote tally showed McLean with 1,535 votes, or 56 percent, to Gardner’s 1,143, or 42 percent.

McLean’s margin of victory was particularly high in the 3rd and 4th Wards — he won 166 to 11 in Precinct 4A, 158 to 69 in Precinct 4B and 135 to 9 in 3B — but he also won precinct 2B by 45 votes and trailed by only 10 votes in 1A.

Gardner’s biggest win was in Precinct 1B, where he garnered 170 votes to McLean’s 55.

Turnout for Tuesday’s runoff election was 21 percent, slightly higher than the 19.5 percent that turned out for the Oct. 6th election. McLean finished first and Gardner second in that election.

Gardner said Tuesday night he would be glad to work with McLean in any way the new mayor might wish.

“We certainly had hoped to win or we wouldn’t have been out there, and I appreciate the work of everyone who supported us, but the people of Elizabeth City decided that Roger was the person for the job,” Gardner said. “I congratulate Roger and wish him the best. If he sees fit to use me I would be glad to help in any way that he might ask.”

Gardner said he thought electric rates and programs for youth were important issues in the deciding the outcome of the election.

McLean agreed the electric bill was a defining issue.

“I know it was,” McLean said. “I’ve been concerned about electric rates for a long time.”

Voters also cited electric rates as an important issue.

Leslie Williams Sr., a 62-year-old truck driver who voted in 3B, said he voted for McLean because electric rates top his list of concerns.

Williams said he communicates regularly with people all across the country.

“It seems every time I discuss the utility bills here that everybody is shocked,” he said.

He said as best he can tell the city’s electric rates are among the highest in the country.

“It’s sad for this town to be known for that,” he said. “There are a lot of people in this town that are totally devastated by the electric rates.”

Scott Fenwick, a 52-year-old engineer who voted in 3A, also voted for McLean and agreed electric bills were the top issue.

But he added he didn’t think much could be done about the electric rates.

“I think they’re locked in,” Fenwick said.

But addressing his supporters Tuesday, McLean insisted the city would make progress on reducing electric rates.

“We’re going to work together to do everything we say that we’re going to do, for the good of the citizens of Elizabeth City,” McLean said.

City Council will work together in the next term, he said. “That’s what we’re going to make happen in Elizabeth City, N.C.”

Johnnie Walton, who will take a seat on City Council from the 4th Ward in December, said Tuesday he looks forward to working with McLean.

“I think he’s a competent person,” Walton said. “He’ll do a good job.”

Walton, who previously served one term on council, agreed that the new council would find a solution to the problem of high electric rates.

“First we’ve just got to get in there and see where we are,” Walton said. “But anytime there is a problem there is a remedy.”

Lena Hill-Lawrence, who will take the other 4th Ward seat in December, said she’s looking forward to working with McLean and the rest of council.

Everything will be in Divine order,” she said.