11/04/15 — District 2: Broadaway will keep seat

View Archive

District 2: Broadaway will keep seat

By Ethan Smith
Published in News on November 4, 2015 1:46 PM

News-Argus/MELISSA KEY

Jackie Warrick, former District 6 Council member, left, Bill Broadaway, District 2 Council member, and Gene Aycock, District 6 Council member, look over the results as they come in from the polling stations during a party at the Lantern Inn on Tuesday evening.

Goldsboro City Council District 2 incumbent Bill Broadaway will retain his seat on the council following Tuesday night's unofficial election results.

Broadaway received 420 votes, while challenger Troy Mitchell received 118 votes. There were eight write-in ballots cast. Who the write-in ballots were for will be revealed on Thursday.

Broadaway was at the Lantern Inn with incumbent council members Chuck Allen and Gene Aycock when he first learned of his victory.

"First thought I have about winning tonight is that I'm very humbled by the support people have given me," Broadaway said, who has served on the council for one term following his election to the council in 2012.

Broadaway said he was unable to track where he was in the election following the announcement of early voting totals, because his truck broke down on his way to Lantern Inn.

He said he wants to work with the new council members elected Tuesday night to expand the council's vision and begin addressing areas of the city outside of downtown that are in need.

"It's been four hard years, and we've made a big step in the right direction with our work downtown. We've built it up and now we have to bring in investment down there," Broadaway said. "We've got to change the focus of the council to the rest of the city now to pave streets in need of paving, fix or demolish dilapidated buildings in the city and work to get our police department equipped and manned to the appropriate levels."

Broadaway said he met his opponent, Mitchell, for the first time Tuesday afternoon prior to the night's election.

"He's a really good guy with a very nice family," Broadaway said of Mitchell. "He ran a great race and I'm very pleased with how he ran his campaign."

A call placed Tuesday night to Mitchell requesting comment about the election results was not returned by press time.