The coastland times., 1957-05-10
|MANTEO VOTERS CHOSE VEPCO
ELECTRIC SERVICE BY LARGE
MAJORITY AND LARGE VOTE
Aldermen Who Favored Plan Ran Lowest on Tick
ct as Board Picks Up New Member in tuesdays
Election When Record Vote Was Cast: I79 to
So Votes Favor VePeo Registration Had More
Than Doubled.

With 92 per cent of the towns
registered voters casting their
choice Tuesday, the proposal to
put the town in the electric power
business was showed under by a
majority of more than three to one.
Only four voters failed to register
their choice on this issue. The vote
in favor of the town proposition
was So, while 179 votes were cast
in favor of granting the Virginia
Electric and Power Company 30
year franchise, in Manteo.
High runner for Board of Alder
men was G. T. Westcott with a vote
of 189, and next to him the new
conner in the field, Barnett, got 40
votes. Westcott, a member of the
board, and Barnett, the newcomer,
both favored Vepco. Sam Midget,
present member of the board, drop
ped down to lit votes and is elect
ed, but M. l.. Daniels, Jr. lost out,
his vote being only 100. Both these
men advocated putting the town in
the power business.
The citizens of Manteo had fair
weather in which to express their
desires. Heavy voting began early
in the day. A few names were writ
ten in on the ticket. Belton Bur
rus, as a write-in candidate got
IL votes for alderman, Vernon Dav-
is, a former board member, five
votes, while Ralph Davis, w. M.
Jolliff and Mrs. Molly Andrews got
one vote each. Keith Fearing Jr.
and Vernon Davis each got one
write-in vote for Mayor. Next
highest vote cast, 178, went to
Martin Kellogg, the reelected in
cumbent mayor.
It was the biggest vote ever
known in the town of Manteo. 1t
was clear verdict that the citi-
zens do not approve of municipal
power system in Manteo. Consid-
cradle activity had been manifest
on both sides of the issue. Roanoke
Utilities Company, which favored
the Vepco side, and aided by Vepco
advice and counsel, had literally
besieged the town with argument
in their behalf. The town board
had also sent letter after letter to
the citizens, making claims of
great benefits that would accrue to
the town by handling the power
business itself.
During the registration period,
the towns list of registered voters
increased from 124 to 261, or
gain of 137. The total vote cast
exceeded by six the last estimate
made by this newspaper. The vote
for Vepco exceeded by IL, the
guess also likewise made.
No Regrets and No Complaints
NJ. l.. Daniels Jr., the one can
didate for Alderman who was
nosed out in the race, after having
served some nine years on the
Board, said he had no regrets and
no complaints. He said he only
wanted to bring out all the facts
In the issue, and now that the peo-
pie have spoken, he accepts their
decision, and had it not been he
will necessarily be out of town
Monday of next week at the Board
meeting, he would graciously APP
prove the Power Company's appli-
cation for the franchise on the
first reading, when it comes be-
fore the board. This is in accord
with his original statement of
position.
"In fact" he said, 81 feel as if
| have a 200 pound load lifted off
my shoulder, for the stress of a
campaign of this kind naturally
creates some tension. have avoid
ed saying anything about any of
the participants that would re-
gret, and ] have refused to believe
numerous rumors brought to me by
tale bearers, about what the oppo-
sition may have said about me-"
Il wish everybody well, and have
no envy or malice in any respect.
believe all parties will find me
still their friends. ] have worked
as best ! could for the towns in
terests, and most of it has been
very pleasant, and / think have
gained much of value personally in
my association with others in this
work. It has been pleasant. am
grateful to those who supported
me, and it is some satisfaction to
know that many who opposed the
municipal power issue, voted for
me just the same,
Ray Goodmon, Vice President Of
Vepco said Wednesday morning his
company would present their appli-
cation again on Monday afternoon,
May 13, to the Manteo town
Board, and should it be approved
on first reading and again approve
ed at the June 10th meeting. he
was confident, that upon approval
of other regulatory agencies,
Vepco would be taking over and
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