Caswell County Elections 1966

Caswell County Elections 1966 

Aldridge May Not Seek Re-Election To Caswell Board of Commissioners: Poteat Candidate For Sheriff

Yanceyville, N.C. -- Irvin Aldridge, chairman of the Caswell County Board of Commissioners, said Thursday he doubts that he will seek re-election. Aldridge is a candidate for president of the North Carolina Jaycees. If he wins that post, "something's got to give," he said. He said he wants to discuss the matter with other members of the board next Monday before making an official statement, "but as of right now, I'm not running." As Aldridge has all but bowed out of the May 28 Democratic primary, to other candidates entered.

One of these is Bobby Poteat, who said he will oppose Frank Daniel as sheriff. The other is Weldon Duncan, a Yanceyville businessman, who declared for Aldridge's seat on the Board of Commissioners. Duncan's decision to run for commissioner was not made in consultation with Aldridge, however.

Oscar Watlington, a former member of the board from Yanceyville, is reported considering seeking his old seat back.

Poteat's announcement assured Caswell of at least one county contest in the upcoming primary.

It could be a lively one. Poteat, who lives at Providence, has been under pressure for some time to challenge Daniel and is expected to give Daniel his most serious competition since Daniel first was elected in 1958. Poteat served as a deputy under Daniel until last month when he resigned. Before becoming a deputy in August, 1957, he was a constable of Dan River Township.

A member of Providence Baptist Church, he married the former Margaret Murphy in 1950. They have a son, 6, and daughter, 11. He served in the Army during the Korean War.

Sheriff Daniel announced this week that Brooks Arnold, 57, of Pelham, has been appointed deputy sheriff to succeed Poteat.

Duncan has been active in numerous civic affairs in the county since returning here after World War II. The Army veteran was president of the Caswell County Fair Association for two years, held every office in the Caswell Jaycees, including president, and has held offices, including commander, of the local American Legion post. He also is a senior vice commander of the local VFW.

In discussing his plans, Aldridge said his campaign for N.C. Jaycee president will be opened this Saturday night at a regional meeting in Jaycee. At present, there are no other candidates for the post. Now a national Jaycee director, Aldridge said he thinks his chances of winning the state job are good.

"In fact, if this wasn't looking as promising as it is, I probably would go ahead and run for commissioner again," he said. The new officers will be elected at the state Jaycee convention May 14 in Raleigh. [Aldridge won.]

A graduate of Elon College and the University of North Carolina Law School, Aldridge has experienced nothing but success in his political ventures in his native county. He ran for County Solicitor during his senior year in law school and won easily. Later, however, when he took a job as office manager of Graphic Systems, Inc., he resigned this post but then ran for County Commissioner from his old Anderson-Hightower Township. He was elected and, two years later, was reelected from Yanceyville Township when [Oscar] Watlington retired. He has served as chairman for the past four years.

Source: The Danville Register (Danville, Virginia), 4 March 1966, Friday, Page 11