Kenly mayor challenged in re-election bid [The Wilson Daily Times, N.C.]

Oct. 31--KENLY -- Mayor David Grady is being challenged in his re-election bid by a member of the Kenly Town Council.

Grady is seeking his third term in office and will face Larry Smith, a one-term councilman, in the Nov. 5 nonpartisan municipal race. Smith, a retired United Methodist Church pastor, was elected in 2011 to the town council. Grady, the owner of the Insurance Shoppe in Smithfield, was elected as mayor in 2009.

Grady also previously served on the town board and as mayor. In 1983, he was elected to a four-year term on the council and was elected for a two-year term as mayor in 2001.

Grady is interested in continuing his work as an elected official, which during the past several years has included the addition of new water and sewer lines in a section of the town, the purchase of a new town hall and completion of a long-range land use plan. The town has also invested in its park system.

Grady is interested in city park improvements, downtown revitalization and improvements at the public library.

"I think we're doing really well," Grady said. "I'm running for re-election because I think my work is not done. It's all about public service."

The town's financial standing has improved, moving from having close to $100,000 in reserves in 2009 to about $1.3 million in 2013, Grady said. The town's property tax rate has remained the same during Grady's four years in office and the town's financial standing is due to effective leadership from department supervisors and the town manager, he said.

Grady has rejected his salary as mayor, $600 a year, and returned it back to the town in support of a Christmas party for town employees.

"I have not taken a salary since I've been mayor," Grady said. "I tell them to take that money and put it in a line item for the Christmas party for employees."

Larry Smith is challenging Grady and said he has a different perspective about the future growth of Kenly. He believes the focus should be on U.S. 301 and less on the downtown area.

"The 301 corridor that comes through Kenly is one of the areas we need to focus on first to bring businesses in and then begin to revitalize downtown on a long-range plan," Smith said.

He believes town officials should use more restraint when spending town funds and wants to ensure that property taxes don't increase to help pay for town improvements. The only type of property tax increase Smith would support is one that would help improve the town's water and sewer system, he said.

"I want to guard against the fact of buying, buying and buying," Smith said. "I don't want to be in debt that far and be careful of what we spend our money on. I also want to protect taxes . . . and make sure we're not raising taxes to buy a piece of property. I want to make sure we take care of needs and not wants."

Smith also wants to make sure Kenly residents are being treated equally.

"We have a good number of black people and I'm not sure they've gotten a fair shake and as mayor I'd like to see that they're treated equally," Smith said.

Smith was ordained into the United Methodist Church in 1979 and served as a pastor until his retirement in 2005. He continued working as a chaplain, from 2005 to 2007, and is currently the pastor of Seven Spring UMC. Smith has lived in Kenly since 2008, he said.

"I chose Kenly to live here because I like Kenly," Smith said.

Also in the Tuesday election, two Kenly Town Council seats will be on the ballot and a third seat that is part of an unexpired term. Bonnie Williamson is seeking re-election and James Little and Joe McDougald are seeking a seat on the council. McDougald is seeking to fill the unexpired term of former council member Charlie Gilantzis. The Kenly mayor serves a two-year term while members of the council serve four-year terms.

rochelle@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7818

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