Amy Lotven Herald Staff Writer

TODD WETHERINGTON | DAILY HERALD Northampton County Commissioner Virginia Spruill, right, congratulates Fannie Greene on her victory over opponent Chuck Youse Tuesday in the Northampton County Commissioners race. Advertisement

JACKSON - Months and months of campaign speculation and anxiety came to an abrupt end Tuesday evening, a little more than an hour after the polls closed countywide.

At one point the race was neck and neck, but as results from more precincts arrived, the gap spread and by 8:40 p.m., the voters' verdict was clear - District 5 Commissioner Fannie Greene, a Democrat, would retain her seat, while challenger Chester Deloatch, also a Democrat, would carry District 3.

The final unofficial numbers showed Greene earning 56 percent of the vote, a total of 2,915 votes, compared to the 2, 332 votes (44 percent) garnered by Unaffiliated opponent Chuck Youse. Deloatch received 2,858 votes, or 53 percent, to Republican opponent Rose Sumner's 2,494 votes, or 47 percent.

Greene, Deloatch, their friends and family and other officials, including State Rep. Michael Wray, Sheriff Wardie Vincent and Commissioner Robert Carter, who were all running unopposed, watched the results per tradition on a large screen in the county J.W. Faison Auditorium.

Wray and Vincent remained relaxed throughout the night, chatting amiably to one another, while at the next table Deloatch, Greene and their families concentrated on the screen, scribbling notes or making phone calls each time a new precinct came in.

Finally, the last precinct came in, the tension lifted and the congratulations began.

“I think it was a good election,” Greene said. “All the candidates worked very hard, but now the citizens have spoken. I appreciate the confidence the citizens have given and will work just as hard next term.”

She plans to continue to support economic development projects and work on increasing law enforcement throughout the county.

Deloatch thanked his supporters and said he would push more economic development.

Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Virginia Spruill, who was not up for election but watched the results roll in at the center, said this was a good election, probably the best in years. “The candidates have proven to be dedicated and hardworking,” she said.

Asked if the new configuration of the board would change its dynamics, Spruill said she was certain Deloatch would come in mindful of how she and her colleagues work and will compliment the board.

Commissioner Robert Carter, who was running unopposed, thanked all of his supporters and said he believes Deloatch will get acclimated to commission and work as a team.

Just down the road from their opponents, Youse and Sumner were milling about the J.W. Faison Senior Center saying goodbye to loyal supporters as the evening wound down.

Youse said he's going to take a couple weeks and think about making another election bid in the future.

He said his supporters say they definitely want him to do it again, but “it took a toll.”

“We made a good run, and even though we lost, we made a statement that the people of the county aren't going to stand still,” he said.

He encourages the board members to take on the challenges facing the county over the next four years. If they fail, they can be assured they will face another hard election, he said.

Sumner had little to say. She admitted she was “very disappointed” by the results and felt the citizens would have benefited by she and Youse's knowledge and experience; however, “We'll have to live with what we've got for the next four years.”