02/13/07 — Warrick will run to keep his seat

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Warrick will run to keep his seat

By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on February 13, 2007 1:57 PM

A second member of the Goldsboro City Council has announced his intention to run for re-election this November.

Jackie Warrick, a retired Goldsboro police chief who has represented District 6 for the past four years, said Monday he wants to see ongoing projects and efforts to improve the downtown area through.

"The mayor, council and citizens of Goldsboro have been under extreme hardship with the loss of the community building and Paramount," he said. "We have committed to building both of those places back."

But reconstruction of those city landmarks is only part of the battle downtown, he added.

In fact, for the past few years, Warrick has been outspoken in his desire to bring single-family neighborhoods back to the area, an issue he said will be one of the cornerstones of his campaign.

"(Council members) are also committed to a master plan for downtown," he said. "We are working with Preservation N.C. and Self Help to rebuild the housing communities."

Warrick's announcement came three weeks after the Rev. Charles Williams said he would seek another term.

The District 4 councilman has held the post for more than 11 years, the longest tenure of those currently serving on the board.

He, too, said the desire to see a completed Paramount Theater and Wayne County Memorial Community Building prompted him to run in November.

But both Warrick and Williams looked also to the future, saying they will stay committed to the pursuit of a new Civic Center.

"We have several projects on the priority list," Williams said last month.

Warrick agreed.

"I see all these projects as a plus for the city," he said.

All six council members' terms will expire this fall, as will Mayor Al King's.

And while the voting public will definitely see two familiar names on the ballot, the other four officials have not yet made firm decisions.

Councilman Bob Waller, however, said he will likely run, and King said his name will probably appear on the ballot.