Halifax County Commissioner J. Rives Manning Jr. will file to retain his seat on the board for the 2022-2026 term.

In a handwritten letter, the Roanoke Rapids resident who serves as an at-large board member, said, “I was first elected in 2002 so most of you know that I am conservative and try to hold spending and taxes as low as possible while still operating efficiently. I intend to follow that same path in the future.”

Manning said, “Since I was first elected in 2002 we have built two new schools — Enfield-Inborden and the Manning School — a new department of social services and we can pay our bills. Our fund balance savings account is in better shape than it has ever been.”

Discussing health issues, he said he met with his cardiologist and said she told him “she saw nothing in my records or in the examination to show that I didn’t have more than another 15-plus years in it. This term I am filing for is only for four years so I should make that fine. I may not be as fast as I used to be but I will still be there at the end.”