Aycock files to run for commission seat
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 9, 2012 1:46 PM
Full Size
George Wayne Aycock Jr.
George Wayne Aycock Jr. has filed as a Republican candidate for the at-large seat on the Wayne County Commission currently held by Democrat Dr. Sandra McCullen, who has filed for re-election.
Filing for the May 8 primary ended Feb. 29.
Aycock, 65, is no newcomer to county politics, having challenged former District 1 commissioner and fellow Republican Andy Anderson several years ago.
"I think we need some changes in the county commissioners' seats," Aycock said. "Nothing against Dr. McCullen. I have known her a long time and she is a fine lady. I just think we need some changes. We are at the point that we have got to start to looking at our budget a little bit closer because of the economy the way that it is."
Aycock said he is retired and has the time to devote to the office and just thought it was time to seek the office, something he had been thinking about for the past year.
"I am conservative and want to make sure that our money is being spent where I think the taxpayers want it spent," he said.
Aycock said the county has good employees and should look after them.
He said he wants people to express their opinions at meetings, but to be civil in doing so, adding that he believes most people have. He said he has no "real clear picture" on commissioners holding night meetings as has recently been suggested.
"I know they tried it once several years ago and it seemed like it wasn't working," he said. "But the time might be right to try it again. Sometimes if you don't do something you never know."
Aycock said he has a lot of interest in Wayne County and has two children as well as grandchildren who live in the county.
"I am looking to the future," he said. "If I live 20 more years, I will be lucky, but I have grandchildren, not even teenagers yet. I want to lay some of the groundwork so that they will have a future in Wayne County and will stay in Wayne County.
Aycock, a lifelong resident of the Nahunta community, owns and operates Nahunta Storage and is a partner in the Nahunta Softball Complex. He also owned and operated Wayne Aycock Trucking from 1971 until 1992.
He is past fleet manager and distribution supervisor for Cates Pickles/Dean Foods in Faison and past safety manager for Wilco Transportation Services in Mount Olive.
Aycock, the son of the late George Wayne Aycock Sr. and Ophelia Aycock, is a graduate of Charles B. Aycock High School. He is the widower of Pamela Price Aycock. He has three children: George Wayne Aycock III, an attorney who lives in Greensboro, Meredith Jan Peters, who is employed at Wayne Memorial Hospital and lives in the Nahunta community, and William Allen Aycock who also lives in the Nahunta community and works for UPS in Kinston.
He is a member of Pike's Crossroads Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Aycock is active in the community having served on the Nahunta Volunteer Fire Department for 50 years including stints on the board of directors, as board chairman and assistant chief.
He is past president of the Wayne County Firemen's Association and currently serves on the association's finance committee.
Aycock was a member of the Wayne County Planning Board for nine years, three spent as chairman. He has been on the Northwestern Water Sanitary District for four years where he is in his second term. He is a member of the Wayne Water Districts, which serves five water districts.