Preston is seeking board seat
By Steve Herring
Published in News on June 8, 2015 1:46 PM
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Thomas Preston Jr.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Thomas Preston Jr., 69, is the first person to announce his candidacy for the Mount Olive Town Board in the Nov. 3 municipal election.
Preston, who served one term previously on the board, will run for the District 3 seat that has been empty since Commissioner George Fulghum died in February.
"I am interested in the growth of the town and the people," Preston said. "I am interested in the political system with the town. I look forward to working with the board, the town manager and the mayor 0n their decisions all for the well being of the town and the citizens."
Filing for office begins Monday, July 6, at 8 a.m. and continues through Friday, July 17, at noon.
The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, when the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
All of the board seats are up for election -- Mayor Ray McDonald Sr.; At-large Commissioner Ray Thompson; District 1, Kenny Talton; District 2, Jerry Armstrong; and District 4, Joe Scott.
All of the terms are for two years.
Preston previously served from 2005 to 2007.
Preston, who is semi-retired, has operated PMI Roofing and Insulation for 31 years. The company has offices in Mount Olive and Wilmington.
He is a member of the Mount Olive First Pentecostal Holiness Church where he is a past deacon.
Preston is a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force. He is a lifetime member of American Legion and VFW. He is past commander of American Legion Post 103 and past vice commander of VFW Post 9959.
He has served on the town's Airport Committee and on the Committee of 100.
He is married to the former Connie Jones. They have three children and three grandchildren.