Solomon Leads the Pack in Kinston City Council Election Results ...

Les Lipford ran for Kinston City Council in 2021 and 2023 but did not win. 

As of September 4, 2025, Les Lipford did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Les Lipford

2021 Kinston Voter Guide – NC Voter Guide

Les Lipford holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in business administration. He served 22 years in the military.

Les Lipford ran for Kinston City Council in 2023 but did not win. 

Plans to hold town hall meetings to keep citizens informed.

Believes in pursuing "simple" policies that will quickly help citizens with housing affordability.

Supports the creation of a Citizen Review Board for the City of Kinston Police Department.

James Auchincloss

Walter Ley

Ashley Kornegay (Kinston City Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Ashley Kornegay's campaign for Kinston City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

As of September 4, 2025, Ashley Kornegay did not have a website or any information online.

LinkedIn

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Ashley Kornegay

Lynecia earned her associate's degree in liberal arts from Durham Technical Community College.

Lynecia is a senior at Pennsylvania State University.

Lynecia Barrow (Kinston City Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Lynecia's campaign for Kinston City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

As of September 4, 2025, Lynecia Barrow did not have a website or any information online.

Lynecia Barrow

2025 Municipal Elections are Set - Here are your candidates ...

Milton earned a bachelor's degree from East Carolina University. He has lived in Kinston for the past 20 years.

Milton works in the pharmaceutical industry. He is also a small business owner.

Milton's campaign for Kinston City Council Member is his first entry into politics.

Milton Foster: Scientist and Business Owner Aims to Bring Practical Leadership to Kinston City Council

Said he would prioritize lowering taxes, creating incentive programs, and streamlining city processes to make Kinston more attractive to investors and employers.

Plans to attract investors to Kinston by lowering taxes, creating incentive programs, and streamlining city processes.

- Plans to attract investors to Kinston by lowering taxes, creating incentive programs, and streamlining city processes.

As of September 4, 2025, Milton Foster did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "We need to focus on smart growth and make sure city decisions create real value — not just more bureaucracy."

- Supports lowering property taxes.
- Said, "We need to focus on smart growth and make sure city decisions create real value — not just more bureaucracy."

Believes code enforcement is essential for public safety, saying that maintaining property standards and addressing neglected areas can deter crime and improve community pride.

Believes code enforcement is essential for public safety, saying that "maintaining property standards and addressing neglected areas can deter crime and improve community pride."

- Believes code enforcement is essential for public safety, saying that "maintaining property standards and addressing neglected areas can deter crime and improve community pride."

Wants to address road conditions throughout the city.

- Wants to address road conditions throughout the city.

Milton Foster

Quarla N. Blackwell's campaign for Kinston City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

Supports better pay for the city’s essential workers.

Supports "fair and equitable compensation for department heads to reduce the strain on the community."

- Supports better pay for the city’s essential workers.
- Supports "fair and equitable compensation for department heads to reduce the strain on the community."

Supports funding churches and grassroots organizations.

- Supports funding churches and grassroots organizations.

Advocates for prioritizing homelessness services.

- Advocates for prioritizing homelessness services.

Supports reducing the police department's budget and establishing an elected community accountability board to supervise disciplinary protocols for misconducting officers.

Supports reentry programs that assist formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives.

Supports accessible, affordable, community-based mental health services.

- Supports reducing the police department's budget and establishing an elected community accountability board to supervise disciplinary protocols for misconducting officers.
- Supports reentry programs that assist formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives.
- Supports accessible, affordable, community-based mental health services.

Supports transparent bidding on city projects.

- Supports transparent bidding on city projects.

As of September 4, 2025, Quarla N. Blackwell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Quarla N. Blackwell

Sammy C. Aiken (Kinston City Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Sammy C. Aiken: A twelve-year councilman's vision for Kinston's ...

Sammy previously served on the Kinston City Council for twelve years. He ran for re-election in 2023 but did not win.

As of September 4, 2025, Sammy C. Aiken did not have a website or any information online.

Considers flood mitigation a top concern due to its significant regional impact.

- Considers flood mitigation a top concern due to its significant regional impact.

Supports Kinston's police force and believes their proactive approach has "successfully lowered crime levels."

- Supports Kinston's police force and believes their proactive approach has "successfully lowered crime levels."

Supports burying power lines underground.

Plans to revamp Heritage Street and replace its 50-year-old water and sewer pipes.

Supports revamping Heritage Street and replacing its 50-year-old water and sewer pipes.

- Supports burying power lines underground.
- Supports revamping Heritage Street and replacing its 50-year-old water and sewer pipes.

Supports increased funding for education and teacher's pay.

Supports pressing state legislators to increase funding for education and teacher's pay.

- Supports pressing state legislators to increase funding for education and teacher's pay.

Sammy C. Aiken

Believes Kinston's economic growth is closely tied to its infrastructure and human resources.

Supports the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

Believes climate control can be a controversial discussion.

Prioritizes maintaining the public's trust.

Supports increasing funding for students and teachers.

Thurman Ray Sanders - Ballotpedia

Thurman Ray's campaign for Kinston City Council Member is his first entry into politics.

As of September 4, 2025, Thurman Ray Sanders did not have a website or any information online.

Thurman Ray Sanders

Tyron Cotton was raised in Kinston and went to Kinston High School. He lives there with his wife Amanda. 

Tyron is a mail carrier for USPS. He is a veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Tyron Cotton (Kinston City Council, North Carolina, candidate 2025)

Tyron's run for Kinston City Council at-large is his entry into politics. 

As of September 4, 2025, Tyron Cotton did not have a website or any information online.

Tyron Cotton

Tyron's campaign for Kinston City Council Member is his first entry into politics.

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 