Two Wilson councilmen to step down

Nov. 20--Instead of being voted out of office, Councilmen Bill Blackman and Bill Pitt will step down from the Wilson City Council in three weeks by their own choosing.

Blackman, a three-term councilman for District 3, and Pitt, a 17-year member of council for District 7, have consistently gained voter confidence by being re-elected in earlier council election races. Together, they will take with them nearly 30 years of combined experience.

Blackman, the owner of Blackman Insurance, said he never sought to keep his seat on the council because of a belief in term limits. During his 12 years on the council, Blackman said city leaders have faced challenges, with the launch of Greenlight, the battle against Sanderson Farms and difficulty with the cost of electricity.

"I've really enjoyed serving," Blackman said. "I can't say enough about how great the city staff, city manager and the city attorney have been. I'm probably going to miss it for a while. I think three terms is enough. I've never been a career politician."

He believes the city is on the right track and is confident that his successor, Tom Fyle, recently elected in the November race, will do well.

"I think he's going to be a great councilman," Blackman said. "Wilson's on the upswing. I think the city will continue to be successful."

Blackman said he will continue to keep busy with work, fishing, hunting and he will continue to be involved in the community. He could consider a run for public office in the future, he said.

Blackman said that the city has faced challenges in trying to reduce electric rates and that challenge will continue in the future. He said city officials took some criticism for its stand against Sanderson Farms opening a chicken plant in Nash County but the council's unified stance was due to concern about area water resources. Blackman said city leaders also faced some public concern years ago before the launch of its own fiber-optic network, Greenlight, which offers Internet, television and telephone service in the city.

"I think a lot of people questioned that but look at how it turned out," Blackman said. "I think we took a lot of criticism for Sanderson Farms. I was pretty proud with how that worked out."

Blackman said that newly elected officials can have ideas about how they'd like to improve the city, but the process isn't as easy as it seems.

"There's several things you think you can do but you need four votes to do it," he said.

Blackman, who has started growing a beard, plans to continue serving city residents until his final day in office. His successor will be sworn into office during the Dec. 12 council meeting. Following the ceremony, Fyle will take Blackman's seat on the seven-member council.

Pitt, a retired Air Force master sergeant, was first elected to office in 1992 and served until 2005 after losing his seat to Doris Jones. In 2009, Pitt regained his seat by ousting Jones. He has continued to serve since that time, even though he's faced some health complications. In 2012, he suffered from a heart attack and his regular attendance to city meetings declined.

Pitt has served in state and national positions and was invited to the White House, in 2011. He has served as the North Carolina representative on the National League of Cities' Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee and on the N.C. League of Cities' General Government Legislative Action Committee.

He was also presented with a letter of appreciation for his contributions to the 2012 Wounded Veteran's Peach and Barbecue Run. The event provided support to more than 3,000 active-duty service men and women at North Carolina's military installations.

On Dec. 12, his successor, Derrick Creech, will be sworn into office and serve District 7. Councilmen Donald Evans, District 5, and Logan Liles, District 6, will also continue to serve on the council following their re-election in the November municipal race.

[email protected] -- 265-7818

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