Incumbent Mayor O’Neal wins re-election in Belhaven

Published 9:29 pm Tuesday, November 3, 2015

ELECTION_WEB

BELHAVEN — The battle for the mayor’s seat in Belhaven has come to a close, as incumbent Mayor Adam O’Neal will return for a sixth term and two incumbent aldermen were unseated.

ADAM O'NEAL

ADAM O’NEAL

A total of 643 votes were cast in Tuesday’s municipal election. O’Neal grossed 383 votes and candidate Ricky Radcliffe grossed 325. Ricky Credle won the single open West End Alderman seat with 365 votes, beating out incumbent Robert L. Stanley’s 340 votes.

Charles Boyette and Amos Wilson won the two contested East End Alderman seats, with 369 and 341 votes, respectively. Incumbent Vic Cox was unseated with only 329 votes, and newcomer Shane Hubers came in last with 309 votes.

Belhaven has a total of 1,148 registered voters out of its more than 1,600 residents.

“I feel great. You know, it was a very difficult campaign,” O’Neal said. “I’m just glad the people of Belhaven didn’t get fooled.”

“Now we have a situation where we have a council that the majority is supporting the hospital, and we’ll be able to move forward with getting the hospital property back,” he said.

Ricky Radcliffe said he is disappointed with the results but is accepting them for what they are.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m kind of shocked,” he said. “We kind of put it in the good Lord’s hands, and it is what it is.”

With this acceptance, Radcliffe said he now plans to go back to his everyday life and marine business.

“I’ve got my own business to run,” he said. “I was just hoping I could make a change here.”

Amos Wilson said he wants to do right by the citizens of Belhaven in his new role and listen to what they have to say.

“I’ll serve and do the right thing and try to be a blessing to the people,” he said.

As all but one of the four Belhaven United candidates came up short in the election, Vic Cox said he had hoped more of their team would win, but either way, all of them would continue to support the town.

“We gave it a good shot and did a good job, and the results are what they are,” he said. “We’re still going to support our town.”

The vote totals are unofficial until the Nov. 10 canvassing by the Beaufort County Board of Elections.