THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080395
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Camden County Commissioners Larry G. Lamb Sr. and Samuel K. Shaw Jr. appeared headed to new four-year terms after handily winning their Democratic primaries Tuesday.
David E. Meiggs and Victor S. Neal also had reason to celebrate, earning the top two spots on the county's Board of Education.
In another closely watched race, Republican Kristie Sawyer Corprew and Democrat Peggy Ervinia Kight apparently won spots on the November ballot for the Register of Deeds. Each won her party's primary.
In unofficial returns, Lamb received 1,043 votes to beat challenger Nathan S. ``Buddy'' Tucker, with 349 votes, for the Courthouse Township seat.
Incumbent Shaw also easily defended his post by earning 889 votes to challenger Bill Taylor Jr.'s 480 in the Board of Commissioners at-large contest.
While the commissioners' primaries were two-man races, Camden County ballots were loaded with candidates for the register of deeds and school board.
Corprew beat challenger Vivian Overton Johnson, 129 to 32. It was believed to be the first Republican primary in recent memory.
Kight earned 587 - or 42 percent - of the vote in the register of deeds race, fending off a runoff.
Other results from the Democratic ticket for register of deeds included Douglas V. Cartwright Sr., 195; Forrest R. Pugh, 158; Deborah N. Carter, 117; and Carl S. Brinkley, 334.
Several Camden residents had vowed last summer that Board of Education members would pay at the ballot box after the board switched principals at its middle and high schools with little explanation.
But Meiggs, the only incumbent on the school board ballot, was also the highest vote-getter, with 704 votes. Victor Neal, who was endorsed by the citizens group most angry about the principal switch, sealed the second available seat with 561 votes.
J.F. ``Jon'' Worthington was close behind with 539, followed by G. Wayne White with 507, Wilton B. Forbes Jr. with 451, and Gloria J. Bland with 79.
Despite dismal weather, 40 percent of Camden's 4,200 registered voters turned out at three precincts to cast ballots. Elections Director Helen McPherson had predicted a high turnout because of the interesting races. MEMO: Staff Writer Perry Parks contributed to this story.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION NORTH CAROLINA CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS RACE RESULTS by CNB