County draws lots to fill Onslow council seat

     The Jones County Board of Supervisors was called into a special meeting on July 25 to convene as the board of canvassers concerning the City of Onslow Special Election.

   During the previous board meeting, the supervisors also convened as the board of canvassers to canvass the results of the July 9 Onslow Special Election.

   County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Whitney Hein, noted that Mike Streeper won both races, a seat to fill a vacancy for a term ending Dec. 31, 2025, and a seat to fill a vacancy for a term ending Dec. 31, 2027.

   This prompted Streeper to make a decision as to which seat he would accept and resign from the other seat.

   Hein noted that Streeper ended up accepting the vacancy for the term ending Dec. 31, 2025. He did decline the longer term and turned in a letter of resignation for the term ending Dec. 31, 2027. (One cannot hold two seats on a city council.)

   Michael Wiltsey was the high vote-getter for the longer-term vacancy, of which there were three seats that needed to be filled. The next highest vote-getter was Mike Milsap. With Streeper declining, this forced the Jones County Supervisors to draw lots to fill the third seat.

   Three write-in candidates each received three votes: Derek Lumsden, Joe Paulsen, and Lennie Miller. All three names were up for grabs, the board pulling Miller's name from the "hat."

   "If he (Miller) doesn't take the oath within 10 days," explained Hein, "the seat will be considered vacant and the city council can appoint someone."

   He shared that Wiltsey had already taken his oath. Milsap had yet to do so, and had until 5 p.m. on July 26 or his seat would also be considered vacant.

   The board of supervisors took action to revise the election abstract of votes and approved the certificate of election.