The Democratic winners for three at-large seats on the Halifax County Board of Commissioners will meet three Republicans in the November 3 general election.

In the November race, the three top vote-getters will get the nod to be seated on the board.

According to unofficial results, incumbent Chairman Vernon Bryant collected 4,069 votes Tuesday, followed by challenger Tyus Few with 3,738, and incumbent Vice Chair Chenoa Richardson Davis with 3,546. Challenger James E. Mills finished last with 2,525 votes.

The three winners will face Republican incumbent Sammy Webb and Republican challengers Chuck Hasty and John Whichard.

Bryant

“I want to give thanks to God first for giving me the strength and being able to advance in November,” Bryant said this morning. “I also want to thank my family and voters for their vote of confidence.”

Should results go his way in November, Bryant will enter his fifth term in office. He congratulated Few and Davis on their victories. “I just look forward to November, and I’m going to continue to be about doing what’s in the best interest of Halifax County.”

Bryant said he feels confident going into the November race. “When the appropriate time comes, I’m going to crank up the campaign and try to retain my seat.” He noted there are many good projects in the county’s future. “At the same time, we’ve got to remember that we’ve got to keep the tax rate down and try not to increase taxes in the process. I cannot promise that—but that’s my goal.”

Bryant believes his experience led him to secure the highest number of votes. “I bring a lot of experience to the table. I’ve got a strong government background. I was in probation and parole, and now I’m a realtor, so I have a business background.” He added that he believes he has served the county well. “I’m a listener. I’m very transparent. I think the citizens know that and realize I’m approachable. I work very well with my friends and colleagues on the board.”

Few

Few, a former member of the Halifax County Board of Education, said while he was excited about the victory, he’s still letting it sink in. He believes his long track record of public service helped him secure the opportunity to move on to the general election. “I worked in the superintendent’s office all those years and served 38 years on the school board, eventually becoming chairman; I know a lot of people in the area.”

Few said he chose to run because he believed he could make a difference in building the future for the county. “Knowing the aspects of not only school operations but government, I thought I could be an asset to the citizens in terms of other departments.”

He acknowledged the challenges in the county, particularly in education. In school funding, the county ranks 97 out of 100, he noted. “Then we have a certain percentage of our youth who are falling through the cracks. There's probably about 20 percent of our youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not in school and don't have a job. That contributes to crime because people have to have some form of income. We just have to do a better job.”

Davis

Davis said she dedicated this election to her late husband, Tony, who stood beside her during her first campaign. While feeling humbled by the victory, she said, “I’m missing my husband a little bit. I’m doing this for him because he told me to stay strong.”

With another hurdle in November, she said, “One of my goals is to continue the momentum toward the November 3 election. One important thing is keeping the people engaged, letting them know what’s going on, and ensuring they don't just stop at the primaries.”

She described herself as a candidate who hopes to unite voters of all parties. “We’ve got to unite and do what’s best for all our citizens in Halifax County. I’m looking forward to listening to our residents and meeting more people over the next several months.”