SOUTHERN PITT COUNTY  - Buddy Blake filed for Mayor of Ayden last week, challenging Steve Tripp for the post being vacated by Mayor Michael House. Filing for municipal elections is coming to a close at noon on Friday.  

Blake, who was defeated by Malcolm Maxwell in a third ward race nearly two years ago, says he would like to help better the town's working relationship with contractors. Blake feels his thoughts and ideas will be beneficial to Ayden. 

"I'm running because I'd like to see the town become more aggressive in promoting Ayden and Southern Pitt," Blake said. "I feel I have something to offer."  

Mary Alice Davenport, Leonard Gibson, Louise Pritchard, and Gloria Dixon are all incumbents who have filed for re-election. New candidates Steve Whaley and Donald Skinner have also filed.   

In Winterville, LaMar Shannon is the latest of candidates to file for Alderman. David Hooks and Jim Shaffer also filed in Winterville earlier this month. LaMar Shannon was unavailable for comment.  

In Grifton, incumbent Billy Kornegay has filed along with new candidate, Shirley DeBlois.Shirley DeBlois, daughter of the late Walter D. Murphy, a former Grifton merchant, says when she returned to Grifton in 1998, she saw a lot of changes that had been made to Grifton, both good and bad, which sparked her interest in getting more involved.  

"I've had an increasing interest in the business growth of Grifton but also the camaraderie of the town," DeBlois said. 

DeBlois says she wants to help make Grifton like it was immediately following Hurricane Floyd. She says the town was unified in such a great way and wants to see that same spirit of unity come back.  

DeBlois want to help make Grifton citizens feel their opinion counts and to help encourage citizens to voice their concerns and opinion. 

"Everybody counts," DeBlois said.

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