How I see the Washington City Council Candidates | Eastern North Carolina Now

   If you don't know where I stand on issues in Washington by this point and have either decided to vote for me because I'm the right candidate or that I'm the devil incarnate you probably haven't started paying attention to the municipal elections yet at all which is just fine. There's very few in town that are somewhere in the middle and I've come to peace with that. But just in case you still don't know what issue stands I've taken or how I intend to approach the position of City Council Member you can check out garyceres.com.

   But this article isn't about me. This about the other 10 candidates that are running and my unfiltered, honest assessments and if you've read my articles you should expect nothing less as I expect nothing less than both positive and hateful reactions to my article as always. But I have put myself in the public sphere so let the chips fall where they may.    For starters I do not consider the vast majority of the other candidates as opponents but rather as competitors. Almost all have the city's interests at heart, care deeply about their community and are intelligent and hard-working people wanting to make a difference in the lives of others. So let me get out of the way the one candidate I cannot in any way endorse and that I believe needs to be removed from the City Council in this election and that is Richard Brooks.

   I'm sure Richard is a nice guy. He's a minister and he's championed the cause of minority communities for years. But therein lies the problem. Richard Brooks has been in office for more than 28 years. It's time to go. On top of that Mr. Brooks owns several slum properties in town, has done nothing in 28 years to visibly improve the economic situations of the minority communities he claims to represent and has been a rubber stamp vote for Mayor Sadler and City Manager Russell on almost every vote. He falls asleep at City Council meetings, doesn't show up to do the work with the community unless its a ribbon cutting, hand wave and a photo-op. He's also embroiled in questionable property dealings with the Housing Authority where he received free utility, sewage and water hookups on lots that the Housing Authority helped him obtain (using funds he made the motion to move from the City General Fund to the Housing Authority) and then sold back two of the lots at a profit on Gladden Street and had the deeds notarized in Greene County thinking no-one would notice (I did and pulled the deeds). So Richard Brooks does not deserve re-election but rather a thank you for years of service and a graceful exit.


   There are three candidates though that I have come to know quite well that I am prepared to recommend. I'll start with the one incumbent that I think has earned your vote. William Pitt is by far the most active Council Member. He is still actively working all the time with our First Responders, attends meetings on behalf of the city statewide when other council members cannot be bothered, and cares deeply about his community despite numerous personal struggles. He comes under criticism as a lackey of Mayor Donald Sadler but this is untrue and Mayor Sadler has actually targeted past William Pitt supporters to not display his signs since Mayor Sadler does not like dissent or independent thinking. And if you talk to William Pitt for more than five minutes you instantly like the guy. He and I do not agree on many issues including the need to raise utility rates and property taxes but William Pitt voted for you against the last budget, stands against the corruption in city government, for more public input and for transparency in an era of city deception by the martini sippers. He's earned my recommendation.

   I have known Leesa Jones for over 13 years. When she first came up with the idea of African-American history tours I helped her promote them through my former store I Can't Believe It's a Book Store (located in the now Bank Bistro building). Leesa is a minister, former teacher and one of the classiest people I know. She's my moral compass and I often call upon her wisdom when confronted with moral dilemmas. Her devotion not only to the Underground Railroad museum but to the preservation of history in Washington while simultaneously being hands-on in the betterment of people is beyond admirable. And she's as smart as they come, tough as nails when confronted with lies and deception, and wants to see all people included in city government not just the martini sippers. Her integrity is beyond reproach. She will make an excellent Council Member and I hope that I get to work with her on the Council.

   Andrew “Tex” Melton is someone I did not know prior to running. But I've had many meetings with the man and I have to say I'm impressed. Andrew moved to Washington in 1980 and graduated from Washington High School where he played football and ran track. He joined the Army and served as an infantry man in the 82nd Airborne Division. He's very active in the community having graduated from Beaufort Community College, maintaining an active membership with the Bunyan Volunteer Fire Department for 28 years, and assisting with the Washington High School Football Team. What I like most is that Andrew is taking stands just like William Pitt and Leesa Jones. He stands with me on demanding a more transparent City government that includes everyone in the city and in his words “Not just up to 3rd Street”. He's outraged over the misuse of storm water fees just as I am. And he stands with me on improving our roadways and repairing potholes citywide. So he's earned my recommendation.


   Of the other candidates, I know three fairly well enough to comment, one a small amount and two not really at all. Ellen Brabo is a military veteran with active participation in many community organizations, owner of the successful Ell Hotel, young, energetic and head of the Young Professionals. The only reason I cannot fully recommend her is that I've seen no where that she's be willing to take any tough stands on issues. While its great to speak in generalities about wanting to improve the city (we all do), people deserve to know specific stands on controversial issues even if it alienates some. Everyone knows I take a controversial stand just about everyday but you never have to question where I stand on an issue. That said, if Ellen were to win I would certainly not be upset and would be happy to work with her.

   Mary Beedle is a woman with a very kind heart that I've only gotten to know recently. She's a former Nurse Practitioner that has a passion for helping those that are in need and seems genuinely concerned with improving the community. But again, I haven't seen any firm stands on issues nor have I seen any commitments on issues such as cutting budget items, reducing utility bills, etc. That's not to say I'd be upset if she won either. I just cannot recommend a vote for her unless I see some tough stands.

   Lou Hodges is one of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting. The loss of her husband, former Mayor “Mac” Hodges, weighs heavy on her heart and you can tell with the loving way she speaks of him. She's usually responsive to questions and always has been good to me when I've run into problems of being able to speak at council meetings or open meetings for public input so she's been open for the people there. The problem with voting for Lou is that she supported the last budget which was atrocious and raised storm water fees significantly, used gimmickry to balance the budget and served the needs only of the martini sippers. This was after assurances that she would not back the budget. I'm not sure if Mayor Sadler got to her or not. For that reason I cannot recommend a vote for her but as with Mary Beedle and Ellen Brabo I'd be happy to work with her.

   Antwan Horton I have met on occasion at some community events and in passing. He seems like a genuinely nice young man who doubles as a minister. The problem here again is what is he running on? Generalities do not a campaign make. There are rumors that he was recruited by Mayor Sadler himself to run to act as a rubber stamp for Mayor Sadler and City Manager Russell but rumors are just that rumors and its unfair to judge someone on rumors alone. But I've heard literally no stances on issues from Antwan and he seems to be relying solely on his status as a minister and a member of the minority community to win election. For that reason I cannot recommend voting for him but were he to win his pleasant demeanor would certainly make him someone I personally could work with.

  I admit to knowing nothing about Anthony Tyre. And that's a problem for me when early voting starts in 30 days. Blank slate candidates scare me. You have no idea what they stand for or how they will vote. So for that reason I cannot recommend voting for him.

  Likewise I have never met nor seen AJ Congleton campaign in any capacity. When people don't put themselves out there to take controversial or any stand for that matter its a problem. So I do not recommend a vote for AJ Congleton either.


   To sum up, my recommendations are to vote for four candidates, William Pitt, Leesa Jones, Anthony “Tex” Melton, and myself, Gary Ceres.

   Let the agreeable comments and continued hatred-filled comments commence!

   Early voting starts October 19th and Election Day is November 7th.