Over at last: It was a long election but it was a civil one

The News-Argus often has appealing pictures on its front page, but few are nicer than the one that appeared Wednesday. That is the one that showed Danny Roseborough giving Jackie Warrick a congratulatory handshake after Warrick won Tuesday’s City Council election in District 6.

It represented a long-awaited end to the November elections, and it represented the good will that has existed throughout the weeks and months during which the results of the election were in dispute.

Roseborough came close to beating Warrick in November. In fact, the unofficial election-night count gave Roseborough the election, and Warrick was graceful in defeat.

Then the canvass indicated that Warrick had actually received a few more votes than Roseborough. Because the margin was razor thin and there had been compilation errors, Roseborough asked for a new election, and it was granted by the state Board of Elections.

Throughout the process, there was only civility between Warrick and Roseborough, who were competing to replace the retiring Delmus Bridgers on the City Council. Either would have made a fine addition to the council.

Either also would have contributed to an interesting new look in the Council Chamber. Not only is Bridgers stepping down but veteran J.B. Rhodes lost his seat in the November election to Jimmy Bryan. Warrick and Bryan join Councilmen William Goodman, Chuck Allen, the Rev. Charles Williams and Bob Waller, along with Mayor Al King. It is a fine line-up.

We can expect the residents of District 6 and other Goldsboro residents to be well represented by Warrick, a career Goldsboro policeman who retired as chief.

But don’t be surprised if someday Danny Roseborough also is in a position of leadership in this community. He has much to offer.

Published in Editorials on March 26, 2004 11:09 AM