Longtime Pender County commissioner unseated in primary

A former deputy for the Pender County Sheriff's Office unseated a longtime Pender commissioner.

George Brown, who has held a commissioner seat since 2006, lost to challenger Jerry Groves in the Republican primary. 

Groves received 3,558 or 63.30% of the ballots cast to take the win for the District 3 position, which covers Rocky Point and Long Creek. Brown got 2,063 votes (36.70%). 

"I appreciate all of my supporters for all the hard work that they did and all the time that they put into my campaign," Groves said. "My family, mostly, supported me 100% and it was my family that helped me get in there." 

Groves, 67, a retired community member, stated that he wanted to be "a new voice with new ideas." As a former deputy for the sheriff's department, Groves said he heard the cry of Pender County residents. 

Many of Brown's years on the board were spent as chairman. 

"I appreciate everybody who supported me through the time I've been on the board," Brown said. "I want to congratulate Mr. Groves and I hope everybody can get behind him and support him as he takes the position." 

When asked about progress under his leadership, Brown said he didn't keep of tally of accomplishments during his tenure, but is proud to leave the board with Pender County being in a strong position financially.  

Brown said he's not disappointed in the election results and he's looking forward to going into the next phase of his life and spending more time with his family. 

"I wish Mr. Groves all the best and hope that he successful with his run, just like I've been," he said. 

For the Republican Primary for Pender's District 1 commissioner position, Jimmy T. Tate received 3,117 votes (53.13%) of the ballots, while Cina got 2,750 (46.87%) for the seat covering north Hampstead, Topsail Beach, and Surf City. 

Tate, 44, a former commissioner who served for nearly eight years, is the president of Mt. Calvary for Leadership Development.

He is a member of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Board of Trustees. Tate previously served as a community college president and in other university-related leadership positions. Some of his other leadership positions include serving as the Duke University Medical Center Advisory Board of the Graduate Medical Education Population Health Curriculum Development Project, Pender Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and Southeastern Economic Development Commission.  

Cina, 43, is the owner of Team Cina Enterprises, LLC. 

He's currently the chairman of the Pender County Tourism Development Board, a member of the Pender County ABC Board, the Tri County Cape Fear Fair and Expo Board, Coastal Rotary Club. He was previously on the county's Juvenile Crime Prevention Board. He also received state certifications for advanced law enforcement and to become a professional school resource officer. 

Meet District 1's candidates:Pender County Board of Commissioners, District 1, Republican primary

Meet District 3's candidates:Pender County Board of Commissioners, District 3, Republican primary

Primary 2022 Results:See live vote totals as they're reported Election Night

For the District 1 seat, incumbent and current vice chair David Williams did not refile for the Republican primary another term after serving more than 15 years on the board. 

For the five-member board, members are elected to serve four-year terms. The terms are staggered so that, every two years, two or three commissioner seats are up for election. The winners will join Republican commissioner Fred McCoy and Jackie Newton, who terms expire in 2024. 

There are no Democratic candidates on the ballot in November for District 1 and 3, which effectively means Groves and Tate will takes their seats on the board. 

All election results are unofficial until the Pender County Board of Elections vote canvass on May 27.

The canvass ensures votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed. During the canvass, election officials consider challenges to votes and process provisional ballots and absentee ballots received after Election Day. 

The canvass process is required by law and is held after every election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.