Here’s to the winners … and those who didn’t
Knocking on doors, putting up campaign signs, making phone calls it’s all over now, and if your candidate didn’t win well, there’s always next time.
That’s one of the great things about elections: We get to do it again in the next two to four years.
Buddy Ritch will take over leadership of the city next month and we wish him well. To do otherwise would be to wish ill on Kinston and that’s something we never will do.
Ritch said he will bring the people back together again. You can’t argue with a goal like that. Let’s hope that his methods are as lofty as his goals.
No doubt exists in the minds of anyone that Kinston is a city split apart by race, politics and economics. Blacks and whites distrust each other. Long-time friendships, and shorter ones, splinter over political choices. Those who have not envy those who have.
Mayoral candidate B.J. Murphy sent out a reminder Tuesday night that, although the election is over, the city still faces major problems. Electric rates are high enough to be X-rated. Jobs are in poor supply. We have the makings of a highly successful historic tourism industry, but leaders of the various groups can’t put aside their petty differences long enough to think about what would be best for the entire area. Services duplicated by the city and county do little more than rob taxpayers.
If Ritch can solve these problems, the city should name more than just a parking lot in his honor.
We won’t be a cheerleader for Ritch, or any other politician, but we will be at the head of the line to congratulate him when things go well. We’ll also maintain loyal opposition when we believe he is headed in the wrong direction, just as we will for any elected, or appointed, official.
This is the moment to put rivalries and differences behind us and come together for the good of Kinston. Pulling the city out of the morass in which it finds itself will take the work and best efforts of every resident.
Congratulations to the winners of this week’s elections. And thank you to the others. They aren’t losers. They highlighted problems that need repair and we should all be grateful for that. Running for office takes time and courage. Kinston is fortunate to have good people who care enough to do it.
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