Who won the Wake County commissioners races?
Two new faces will join five incumbents on the Wake County Board of Commissioners after Tuesday’s election.
Nearly half of Wake County registered voters cast ballots early for state and federal candidates, along with those running for county commissioner and the register of deeds. A total of 373,577 people voted early, or about 47% of the total number of people registered to vote in Wake County.
Here’s are the results in some of Wake County’s local races. Find full results at newsobserver.com/2020-results.
Wake County commissioner
All seven seats on the Wake County Board of Commissioners were up, and at least two newcomers were guaranteed to serve on the board.
The county is broken into districts. Candidates must live in their districts but are voted on by the entire county.
The commissioners set the property tax rate and approve an annual budget that funds schools, the sheriff’s office, health department, social services, emergency medical services, parks and more. They also direct the county-level COVID-19 response and regulations.
Democrats will maintain their hold on the board.
Incumbents Matt Calabria, Susan Evans and James West were all unopposed and will remain on the board.
Commissioner Jessica Holmes was the Democratic nominee for the N.C. Secretary of Labor and so didn’t seek re-election for her District 3 seat.
Commissioner Chairman Greg Ford asked to be removed from the ballot this past summer because he plans to move out of the county in early 2021. The Wake County Democratic Party leadership nominated a replacement for the District 6 seat.
District 1
This was a rematch from 2018 when incumbent Sig Hutchinson defeated Greg Jones. Hutchinson has served on the board since 2014.
Hutchinson said he plans to remain focused on transit and creating more transportation options for Wake County.
“Creating healthy communities by focusing on the social determinants of health, affordable housing and mental health,” he said.
With all 206 precincts reporting:
- Hutchinson, 67, a Democrat and founder of Sig Hutchinson Communications, LLC., had 370,189 votes or 62%.
- Jones, 53, a Republican, and industrial contractor and small business owner, had 228,176 votes or 38%.
District 3
Maria Cervania defeated a Democratic primary challenger and faced Republican Steve Hale. Neither had been elected to office in North Carolina.
Cervania said she isn’t considering herself the winner until every vote is counted, but plans to focus on the county’s COVID-19 response if she is elected.
With all 206 precincts reporting:
- Cervania, 52, a Democrat, and biostatistician and consultant, had 360,730 votes or 61%.
- Hale, 68, a Republican, and a criminal defense investigator, had 234,781 votes or 39%.
District 6
Shinica Thomas and Karen Weathers were political newcomers who had not been elected to office in North Carolina.
“I am excited and I worked really hard,” Thomas said. “I got into this race in July and August to replace Greg Ford and I haven’t had as much time as my opponent or the other candidates, so I am really excited about the money we were able to raise and the work my team has been able to do.”
She plans to focus on public education, affordable housing and economic development in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With all 206 precincts reporting:
- Thomas, 46, a Democrat and director of advocacy and educational partnerships for Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines, had 353,344 votes or 60%.
- Weathers, 51, a Republican, and business owner, had 240,488 votes or 41%.
District 7
Vickie Adamson, who was elected to the county board in 2018, faced political newcomer Faruk Okcetin.
She thanked voters for her win and said she plans to keep focusing on education, housing and human services.
With all 206 precincts reporting:
- Adamson, 59, a Democrat, had 369,928 votes or 62%.
- Okcetin, 48, a Republican, and small business owner, had 222,547 votes or 38%.
Wake County Register of Deeds
Democrat Tammy Brunner unseated the incumbent Register of Deeds.
Charles Gilliam was appointed Register of Deeds in 2017 after Laura Reddick, the former register of deeds, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $1 million from the office. The Register of Deeds office is responsible for recording important legal documents like death and birth certificates, marriage licenses and property deeds.
With all 206 precincts reporting:
- Brunner, 53, a Democrat and recruiter, had 355,264 votes or 60%.
- Gilliam, 70, a Republican incumbent and former District Court judge, had 239,287 votes or 40%.
Wake County Soil and Water
One candidate was chosen in this non-partisan position.
With all 206 precincts reporting:
- M.C. Brook, 70, a semi-retired writer , received 36,012 votes or 7%.
Jean-Luc Duvall, 27, a conservation field organizer, received 101,018 votes or 20%.
Marshall Harvey, 75, who is retired, received 167,185 votes or 34%.
Scott Lassiter, 33, an assistant principal, received 184,830 votes or 37%.
NC District Court Judge District 10F, Seat 2
With all 26 precincts reporting:
- Tim Gunther, 61, a Democrat and lawyer, had 59,085 votes or 56%.
- Beth Tanner, 37, a Republican, and associate director of the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission, had 45,918 votes or 44%.
This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 9:11 PM.
