All in Politics
After twelve years of committed service on the Kinston City Council, Sammy C. Aiken, a retired 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, has plans for the future of the city he represents. Although he was born and raised in Eden, he’s lived in Kinston for 42 years, and his service stretches beyond his tenure in the Navy. He has contributed to the community, serving on boards and committees.
Increased crime in recent years has brought safety concerns to the forefront of many American’s minds. This is particularly true in our home state of North Carolina, where crime has been on the rise. For example, in Asheville, violent crime increased by 17.4 percent and aggravated assault increased by 21.8 percent from 2021 to 2022.
With 31 years of dedicated service in the United States Marine Corps under his belt, and a further two years serving as Kinston's Mayor Pro Tem, Antonio M. Hardy is no stranger to leadership. A native of Kinston, Hardy has announced his intention to run for City Council in Lenoir County, aiming to continue his mission of being a "voice for the people" and fortifying the connection between city and county.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Michael Whitfield is vying for the Pink Hill Town Commissioner seat in the upcoming 2023 municipal election. A third-generation Pink Hill resident, Whitfield aims to apply his financial expertise and community involvement to address local challenges.
Joshua Eing, a Marine Corps veteran with a decade of service, has announced his candidacy for the Pink Hill Commissioner position in Lenoir County's 2023 municipal elections. Eing is not the incumbent but aims to bring a fresh perspective and lifetime dedication to service to the role.
With the 2023 Municipal Election approaching, business owner Michael Laurence Horne Jr. has announced his candidacy for the Town of Pink Hill Mayor. Horne, a native of Pink Hill and a former Town Commissioner from 1997-2007, emphasizes "common sense leadership" in his campaign.
Mayor Yvonne Stroud Deatherage, who took office last year amid internal disputes in the Town Hall, is running for a full term in the upcoming 2023 Municipal Election in Lenoir County. The incumbent mayor has emphasized her record of bringing "continuity and stability" to the local government and her commitment to completing ongoing projects.
In a recent interview with Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy, Rep. Chris Humphrey (R) discussed the legislative challenges and successes of this year in Raleigh. The conversation ranged from the state budget to flood mitigation efforts and potential changes in election cycles for local municipalities.
The North Carolina General Assembly passed a state budget that Governor Roy Cooper refused to sign. As in years past, the budget sparked both approval and criticism across political aisles. Senator Jim Perry (R-Lenoir), a key figure in the budget discussions, detailed the budget's multiple facets in a comprehensive interview.
Congress is back in session, and our primary legislative priority is ensuring the government remains funded while reducing reckless spending and addressing the Biden-created crisis at our southern border.
At the city council meeting on Tuesday, the council members discussed the potential implementation of social districts in downtown Kinston. The proposal, presented by City Planner Elizabeth Blount, seeks to designate areas where patrons can legally enjoy alcoholic beverages from permitted establishments while promoting economic growth.
The Lenoir County Board of Elections held an official hearing at a meeting on Thursday to address Mayor Yvonne Deatherage’s petition against mayoral candidate Mike Horne who is her opponent in the upcoming 2023 municipal election.
We hope your September is off to a great start! We’ve put together the below newsletter update to keep you in the know about the work my colleagues and I are doing to serve our communities.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is investing $44.5 million to help rural cooperatives and utilities build and improve water infrastructure, improving quality of life, for thousands of people in rural North Carolina today.
This summer, Eastern North Carolina has been bustling with visitors from across the state and across the nation — coming to experience our wonderful way of life. As we draw closer to the end of summer and students are heading back to school, I'm reminded of how grateful I am to live here throughout the year.
As summer winds down, students are going back to school and legislators are getting back to business by overriding more of the Governor's vetoes and finishing up with the State Budget process. Over the last few weeks, we've been working behind-the-scenes to negotiate and build consensus with our colleagues in the NC House — and we are very close to a final product (more information follows below).
For the upcoming 2023 Municipal Election in Greene, Jones, and Lenoir County, filing opened on Friday, July 7, 2023, and ended at noon Friday, July 21, 2023. Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Here are the candidate filings as of Friday, July 21, 2023, at 12:00 pm.
In North Carolina, the political label “conservative” is more popular than the terms “liberal” or “progressive.” In the most recent John Locke Foundation poll, for example, 46% of likely voters described themselves as conservatives, with 25% picking the liberal label and the rest either “moderate” or nothing at all. If we broaden out to include all North Carolinians, not just those who reliably vote, the gap shrinks a bit. But conservatives still form a plurality — and they significantly outnumber liberals.
For the upcoming 2023 Municipal Election in Greene County and Lenoir County, filing opened on Friday, July 7, 2023, and ends at noon Friday, July 21, 2023, Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
I hope you and your family are enjoying the start of summer! It’s a beautiful time of year to live in Eastern North Carolina.
