Clinton voters returned their mayor to his post, and those casting ballots in assorted other municipal races across Sampson County chose a slate of incumbents and newcomers as their leaders in an election Tuesday that saw relatively low voter turnout.

Despite a push by some around the city to forge a write-in mayoral bid for outgoing Dist. 1 City Councilman Daniel Ruggles, longtime Mayor Lew Starling handily captured his seat, receiving 381 votes, or 76 percent, to only 116 write-ins (23 percent), presumably for Ruggles, though exactly who those write-ins actually are won’t be known until later this week.

Three City Council seats — Dist. 1, Dist. 3 and Dist. 5 — were uncontested, with Joel Rose taking the seat being vacated by Ruggles and Wanda Corbett and Mayor Pro Tem Marcus Becton ret

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