Incumbent ousted in Morehead City mayoral race

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston

Published March 4, 2026 at 5:11 AM EST

Longtime Mayor Jerry Jones challenged the results, pointing to at least two of his supporters who were improperly turned away from the polls. The State Board of Elections determined Thursday that those voters should have been given provisional ballots.

Morehead City voters cast their ballots a second time, and unseated incumbent Mayor Jerry Jones.

Lee Stiles won the race with 67 percent of the vote.

In November, just one vote separated the candidates; Jones filed a protest, arguing that several people were denied the opportunity to vote on Election Day. The State Board of Elections ordered a new vote.

Jones was elected as the mayor in 1999, and Stiles was elected to the city council in 2023.

Annette Weston

Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.

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