Incumbents projected to win aldermen races

Incumbent aldermen up for re-election in New Bern are projected to defeat challengers in four wards, with provisional ballots to be counted and election results to be certified Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Preliminary results show Alderman Robert G. Raynor Jr. retaining his Ward 2 seat with 58 percent of votes -- 164 to challenger Marshall Williams' 117.

Mack L. "Max" Freeze captured 61 percent of the vote in Ward 3, thwarting Robert P. "Chick" Natella, who logged 187 votes.

In Ward 5, Barbara Lee triumphed over Bernard White by an 80-61 margin, or 57 percent.

William H. Ballenger edged Dana E. Outlaw in Ward 6, with 50 percent of votes (195) to Outlaw's 45 percent (177). Frank E. Kerr trailed with 5 percent of ballots cast (20).

New Bern Mayor Tom Bayliss and aldermen Julius C. Parham Jr. (Ward 1) and Joseph E. Mattingly Jr. (Ward 4), all unopposed, retained their seats with 100 percent of votes cast for those offices.

Provisional ballots should be counted Oct. 18, according to the Craven County Board of Elections. Results are not final until the provisional total has been added and results are certified.