2009 Elections: Jacksonville City Council Candidates
The filing deadline for 2009’s municipal election has passed and the final listing of candidates is available at the Onslow County Board of Elections site.
The incumbents:
- Jerome Willingham (Ward 1)
- Reva Sullivan (Ward 2)
- Alva Williams (At-Large)
- Randy Thomas (At-Large)
The challengers:
- Jerry Bittner (Ward 2)
- Hunter Hadley, Jr. (At-Large)
- Robert Warden (At-Large)
- James Bryan (At-Large)
- Lori Ready (At-Large)
- Kevin O’Connor (At-Large)
You’ll notice that Mr. Willingham will not have any competition in November. It’s surprising to me that Horace Mann, a former At-Large Jacksonville City Council-member didn’t file. I think he could’ve defeated Willingham this year. Instead, Willingham will have a new 4-year term beginning in December.
Former City Council-member Jerry Bittner, who lost to Ms. Sullivan in 2007, will be working to get his former seat on the Council back.
The At-Large races will be the most interesting, what-with the multitude of candidates.
I’m particularly surprised at the young James Bryan (he’s 30) filing. I don’t know him or his positions, but having a young fellow on the City Council is something that I think would make the City a better place. Adding a youthful perspective to the ever-so-standard “business-developer-retiree” point-of-view would have much added-benefit.
Kevin O’Connor’s campaign will be interesting, too. He’s known for his loud, often rude and inappropriate outbursts at the City Council meetings. His campaign style will be fun to document, I think.
I don’t know, or know of, the other candidates, but I will be reaching out to them (incumbents and challengers alike) with a questionnaire. Have questions you’d like candidates for Jacksonville City Council to answer? Put them in the comments and I’ll add them to my list.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Thanks for saying I’m young! I suppose it’s all relative. Any birthday that ends with a ‘0′ makes you feel old—I felt that way at 10 (though I was happier then about being older). We’re celebrating a birthday in the office today too, the secretary is turning 21. So just as I was feeling ancient at 30, you come and show me some perspective—thanks!
One element of the ‘youthful perspective’ you mention may be the fact that I have a campaign blog. votejamesbryan.com
The blog is sparse for now. I want to post throughout the campaign, and I’m a bit worried about a strong start only to fizzle out later (as is so common with blogs).
July 17th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Mr. Bryan,
Congratulations on your decision to run for Jacksonville City Council.
I’m 31, so you’re indeed “young”…And certainly younger than any other candidate for City Council.
The results from a quick Google finds that you are the only candidate with a blog/website, though Council-member Sullivan has Twitter and Facebook accounts. I couldn’t find any online presence for the other candidates.
I hope that you do keep your campaign and blog going strong. I’m quite interested in what your platform and campaign plan will be.
Congratulations and good luck.