2022 Rocky Mount Voter Guide
Rocky Mount voters: make your voice heard in this year’s election for City Council!
About the 2022 Rocky Mount Election
This year’s election for Rocky Mount City Council will coincide with the statewide primary election on Tuesday, May 17. Polls will be open 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Find your Election Day polling place.
Questions about Rocky Mount’s election? Contact the Nash County Board of Elections at 252-459-1350 or the Edgecombe County Board of Elections at 252-641-7852.
WHAT DOES THE CITY COUNCIL DO?
The Rocky Mount City Council makes a wide range of decisions affecting your life. The City Council sets policies and priorities and oversees the many functions of local government, including:
• The Police & Fire Departments
• Economic & Community Development
• Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
• Tax Rates & the City Budget
• Streets, Sidewalks & Road Repair
• Historic Preservation
• Zoning & Building Code Enforcement
• Affordable Housing
• Recreation, Parks & Arts Programs
• Water & Waste Disposal
• Town Govt. Employee Wages & Benefits
• Appointments to Boards & Committees
Rocky Mount City Council members are elected in nonpartisan races. The Mayor is elected citywide, while the other members of the City Council are elected from wards. Click here to find out which ward you live in.
Candidates for Rocky Mount City Council – Ward 2
(vote for one candidate)
Samuel (Sam-Roc) Battle
No response from candidate
Reuben C. Blackwell IV
Occupation: President & CEO, OIC of Rocky Mount
Background: 35 years of Economic Development, Entrepreneurial Development, Workforce Development programming; Civil Rights Advocate for almost 50 years; Community Economic Development and Health/Wellness practitioner for 26 years; Not-for-Profit Executive for 26 years; Public servant for 22 years
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
Enhanced quality of life for all Rocky Mount citizens by supporting sustainable, eco-friendly affordable housing strategies; commitment to continuing to build a strong Downtown core; and ensuring a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion guides all my decision making in every deliberation.
Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):
Affordable housing: Support a comprehensive affordable housing plan; launch a holistic and transformational Affordable Housing Bond; raise private capital to complement public investment for more and varied housing options; strengthen pathways for homeownership; establish a Community Land Trust
Website: facebook.com/ReElectReubenBlackwell
Joylette Whitaker
No response from candidate
Candidates for Rocky Mount City Council – Ward 3
(vote for one candidate)
Richard Joyner
Occupation: Pastor, Conetoe Missionary Baptist Church; Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center, Inc
Background: Retired from Nash General Hospital – Chaplain
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
The Top priorities if elected are 1. Growing Healthy Gardens, 2. affordable housing, 3. Jobs for Youth, and 4. police accountability.
Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):
Affordable housing: Continue to collaborate with the churches to get the construction work on homes already in community at no cost, only the cost for the material.
Bronson Williams
Occupation: Media Communications Professional
Background: A lifelong Ward 3 resident and continues to serve the community I love. I been active in raising awareness of various local, state, and national issues through mass media. Graduate of RMHS and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University.
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
We must work towards creating a balance in local public dollars. For far too long disinvestment in Ward 3 has created pockets of poverty, crime, declining home values, and primed for gentrification. We must tackle these issues first hand to include affordable housing and comprehensive development.
Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):
Affordable housing: We must explore every possible avenue to reinvest in community affordable housing. We cannot do it without a solid plan that addresses the current and future needs of our city. Perhaps one approach is a housing and community bond to inject the needed capital to succeed.
Website: BronsonForWard3.com
Crystal A. Wimes-Anderson
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Background: Public service work within the following areas: special needs social worker, registered nurse in acute, long-term, home-health, dialysis settings, health education specialist, Red Cross instructor/volunteer for transient shelter, hospital and faith community liaison, community and patient advocate.
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
Enhanced and Improved Communication; Improving Community Health, which entails Public Safety; Youth Engagement; Economic Development
Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):
Affordable housing: Defining affordable housing is key to ensuring citizens understand how economic development ties into the bigger picture. When citizens understand that home ownership and preventative maintenance factors into their price, they can become more receptive to self-accountability.
Website: nowallsinc.wixsite.com/website
Candidates for Rocky Mount City Council – Ward 6
(vote for one candidate)
Tom Harris
Candidate is unopposed
Candidates for Rocky Mount City Council – Ward 7
(vote for one candidate)
Pete Armstrong
Occupation: Retired
Background: 35-year resident – Ward 7. Pres.-Northgreen Association. 2 degrees – UNC-CH. Career: Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation (28 years) (Sports Complex, Imperial Centre, MLK Park); Dir. of Recreation Res-NCSU. RM Lions Club. Boards – Twin County Hall of Fame, TR Orchestra and Chorus. Member – St. Andrews Ch.
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
Workforce Housing – Adequate housing affects children’s ability to function, it builds self-esteem and makes RM a better place. Equal Representation for All of RM – All RM needs support from government (housing, parks, streets) Open, and Responsible Gov’t. – builds confidence and support in gov.
Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):
Affordable housing: We should rebuild dilapidated houses. Unify and coordinate all its housing programs. Council should set policies regarding housing and staff institute them. Investigate potential public and private partnerships. Use local builders, and follow all regulations. Follow up on grant requirements.
Website: ElectPeteArmstrong.com
Jabaris (JKelly) Walker
No response from candidate
Linwood J. Williams
No response from candidate
There are a variety of other contests in the May 17 primary. Voters registered with a specific party will vote on their party’s primary ballot. Unaffiliated voters may ask for the Democratic or Republican ballot for May’s primary; it won’t change their unaffiliated status.
(Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on their respective party’s ballot.)
U.S. Senate
Democratic primary candidates for U.S. Senate
James L. Carr, Jr. – website
Robert Colon – website
Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond – website
Constance (Lov) Johnson – website
Tobias LaGrone – website
B. K. Maginnis – website
Rett Newton – website
Marcus W. Williams – website
Greg Antoine – website
Cheri Beasley – website
Chrelle Booker – website
Republican primary candidates for U.S. Senate
Marjorie K. Eastman – website
David Flaherty
Benjamin E. Griffiths – website
Kenneth Harper, Jr. – website
Pat McCrory – website
Charles Kenneth Moss
Lichia Sibhatu – website
Debora Tshiovo – website
Mark Walker – website
Jen Banwart – website
Ms. Lee A. Brian
Leonard L. Bryant – website
Ted Budd – website
Drew Bulecza – website
U.S. House of Representatives
NC Supreme Court
Democratic primary candidates for NC Supreme Court Associate Justice – Seat 5
there is no Democratic primary for this seat
Republican primary candidates for NC Supreme Court Associate Justice – Seat 5
Victoria E. Prince – profile info
April C. Wood – profile info
Trey Allen – profile info
NC Court of Appeals
Democratic primary candidates for NC Court of Appeals Judge – Seat 9
there is no Democratic primary for this seat
Republican primary candidates for NC Court of Appeals Judge – Seat 9
Beth Freshwater Smith – profile info
Donna Stroud – profile info
Democratic primary candidates for NC Court of Appeals Judge – Seat 11
there is no Democratic primary for this seat
Republican primary candidates for NC Court of Appeals Judge – Seat 11
Michael J. Stading – profile info
Charlton L. Allen – profile info
NC Senate
Democratic primary candidates for NC Senate – District 5
Kandie D. Smith
Lenton Brown
Republican primary candidates for for NC Senate – District 5
there is no Republican primary for this seat
NC House of Representatives
Democratic primary candidates for NC House of Representatives – District 25
there is no Democratic primary for this seat
Republican primary candidates for NC House of Representatives – District 25
Allen Chesser
Alsey Heth Hopkins
Yvonne McLeod
Nash County Board of Commissioners
Democratic primary candidates for Nash County Commissioner – District 5
there is no Democratic primary for this seat
Republican primary candidates for Nash County Commissioner – District 5
J. Wayne Outlaw
Thomas Winstead
Democratic primary candidates for Nash County Commissioner – District 6
Reginald Silver
Gwen Wilkins
Republican primary candidates for Nash County Commissioner – District 6
there is no Republican primary for this seat
Nash County Sheriff – Democratic Primary Candidates
( there is no Republican primary for Nash County Sheriff )
Joseph Grimes
Party: Democratic
Occupation: Deputy Sheriff
Background: I am a native of Nash County, graduate of Northern Nash High School, attended NC A&T State University, Harris Barber college and Central Piedmont Community College. I currently serve as a Deputy Sheriff with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer and sworn deputy.
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
1st priority is public safety to reduce crime in Nash County. 2nd priority is focus on public information and community engagement to promote a cohesive partnership, ONE NASH. 3rd priority is to develop programs for the detention center focusing on substance abuse and mental health disorders.
As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?
As Nash County continues to grow, the Sheriff’s office needs to adapt with the demand for modern technology and the need for transparency, which are my areas of focus. The need for new equipment and the latest technology is essential to provide great service for all residents of Nash County.
Website: JosephGrimesForNashCountySheriff.com
David Brake
Party: Democratic
Occupation: Retired Major, Nash County Sheriff’s Office
Background: Born and raised in Nash County NC; Former U.S. Marine; Participated in two combat campaigns; 11 year veteran North Carolina Department of Corrections; Retired Major Nash County Sheriff’s Office; Criminal Justice/ Law Enforcement Driving Instructor; Hostage Negotiator; Advance Law Enforcement Certification
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:
Ensure visible Law enforcement presence; Strengthen relationships with local law enforcement, first responders and service-related agencies; Deputies will familiarize themselves with the communities; Resources of the Sheriff’s office will be devoted directly to the community to prevent crime
As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?
Seek advice of our local leaders; Incidents will be thoroughly investigated including viewing of related videos. Videos will be released in accordance with state and federal laws; Current mental health procedures/resources will be evaluated with regards to incarcerated individuals and citizens
Website: DavidBrakeForSheriff.com
Edgecombe County Board of Education
District 1 – Evelyn Shaw Wilson
District 3 – Evelyn J. Johnson
District 5 – Ann Elise Roberson Kent
District 7 – Jewel J. Calhoun
District 7 – Marva G. Scott
Voting Tools
Questions about Rocky Mount’s election?
Contact the Edgecombe County Board of Elections at 252-641-7852 or the Nash County Board of Elections at 252-459-1350
