Former town planner Chad Sary had the most votes in Tuesday’s election, 1,571, but he was closely followed by Jim Dyer with 1,481 and Adam Wright with 1,471. Those three could be sworn in as new Wake Forest commissioners on Nov. 19 if the Wake County Board of Elections certifies the results of the election this week; otherwise, the swearing-in and seating will be Dec. 3.
The four other candidates lagged substantially behind the three leaders. Heather Loftin Holding had 1,250 votes, Sean Sullivan had 1,023, Greg Bartholomew had 752 and Anne Reeve had 697.
All the vote totals are unofficial now, but the Wake Forest Gazette took the numbers from the Wake County Board of Elections website Wednesday. Countywide, the voter turnout was 13.25 percent, 22,944 voters out of a possible 173,181.
The actual voting number for Wake Forest was not available Wednesday at the election board where it is still being calculated. But at 13.25 percent there were 3,903 voters out of 29,457. That is close to but below the recent high in the 2017 election when 3,982 voted out of 26,463 eligible voters, a 15 percent turnout when Mayor Vivian Jones won a fifth four-year term and newcomers Bridget Wall-Lennon and Liz Simpers were elected. The Gazette will have the real number and percentage of voters next week.
The Gazette does not have the numbers for the Franklin County precincts where Wake Forest has annexed land for new subdivisions.
Reeve was the only incumbent of the three commissioners whose terms end this November to choose to run again, this time for her fourth term. Commissioner Greg Harrington chose to step down after serving two terms and Commissioner Pate said he would not seek a second term.
On Wednesday the Gazette asked each of the three winners if they wanted to issue a statement and all three responded.
“I am humbled, honored and blessed to have been elected by our citizens,” Sary wrote. “I want to thank everyone who supported me with their time, advice and prayers throughout my campaign. I’m looking forward to serving our community for the next four years.”
Dyer wrote, “I am grateful to all those that encouraged me to run and certainly to all those that had faith in me to vote and worked so hard to get me elected.
“I thank Greg Harrington, Brian Pate and Ann Reeve for all they have contributed to our community.
“I pray for wisdom and understanding as our community moves forward.”
Wright wrote, “I want to thank the community for voting me to be one of your next commissioners. You did that to have me represent your voice. I welcome your input going forward so I can make sure I represent everyone. Also, follow my website: www.WrightForWakeForest.com
Or my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Wright4WF/
I will try to be as transparent and open about upcoming votes and why I voted why I did. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. I promise to not let you down.”
Sary won in four precincts: 191 votes to 164 for Dyer, 143 for Wright in Precinct 19-07, Flaherty Park Community House; 178 votes in Precinct 19-11, Wake Forest Community House, with 161 for Dyer and 169 for Wright; 46 votes in Precinct 19-15, Wakefield 9th Grade Center, with 44 for Dyer and 35 for Wright; and Precinct 19-21, Rolesville Middle School, with 51 votes for Sary, 35 for Dyer and 49 for Wright.
There was a tie between Sary and Wright, 119 vote each, in Precinct 19-21, Richland Creek Community Church, where Dyer had 109.
Dyer won in two precincts, 19-03, Wake Forest Church of God, where he had 204 against 199 for Sary and 143 for Wright, and 19-05, Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, where he had 122 votes against 115 for Sary and 75 for Wright.
Wright won in three precincts. In 19-12, Heritage Middle School, he had 347 votes versus 346 for Sary and 320 for Dyer. In 19-18, Jones Dairy Elementary, Wright had 69 votes with Sary at 63 and Dyer at 59. In 19-19, Sanford Creek Elementary, Wright had his largest margin, 274 votes against Sary at 231 and Dyer at 226.
Wright won in precincts where there are voters from Heritage, indicating the dissatisfaction with the town’s growth and traffic among people there. Dyer won in precincts where “old Wake Forest” votes, the residential center of town around the seminary campus, where he was better known. Sary had the highest vote total because he was competitive in all but one precinct, within a few votes in all others if he did not win a precinct.
#
2 Responses
Hi Carol,
Do you know if the swearing in of newly elected Wake Forest commissioners will be in November or December yet? Thanks
Hi Jeanne,
Town Clerk Deeda Harris says the town has not yet received word that the Wake County Board of Elections has certified the election. Therefore, the three new commissioners will be sworn in and take their seats in December.
Carol