BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON
Three candidates for Edenton Town Council presented their visions for the historic town’s future at Chowan County Democratic Party meet and greet on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, emphasizing infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and equitable development across all neighborhoods.
Those in attendance included:
- Elton Bond, who is running unopposed for his fourth term in the 4th Ward
- Aaron Coston, who is seeking reelection in the 3rd Ward
- Regina Bond, who is seeking an at-large seat which covers all of Edenton
The event featured Eula Reid and Jenny Wells, both of whom are running for re-election in 2026 as judges. Information about their introduction and answers to questions can be found by clicking here.
At the end of the event, the candidates, except Elton Bond, who had a family matter to attend, answered questions regarding engaging area youth and keeping them in the region. An article featuring this part of the discussion will be published at a later date.
The Chowan County Democratic Party plans to host another event to meet candidates for the Western Precinct of Edenton, which is west of Broad Street. We’ll include information about that event as soon as it becomes available.
Elton Bond Jr.: Fourth Term Focus on Safety, Cleanliness and Beauty
Town Council veteran Elton Bond Jr., seeking his fourth term, outlined an unwavering commitment to his original campaign vision.
“I want to make Edenton a beautiful, a clean, and a safe place to live and to raise a family,” Bond told supporters before leaving early to say goodbye to his daughter, a Navy master chief departing for a four-month deployment.
The Elizabeth City State University graduate emphasized his pride in Edenton’s character.
“I always told people when they asked me, where are you from? And I told them, prettiest little town in the United States,” he said.
Bond highlighted significant infrastructure improvements during his tenure, noting the replacement of aging water and sewer lines dating to the 1930s and 1940s. “We’ve done some good things. The infrastructure, water pipeworks, your lines, a lot of that was put down in the 1930s and the 1940s, and we were trying to redo all that stuff.”
Public safety advances featured prominently in Bond’s accomplishments, including implementation of gunshot detection technology and expanded camera surveillance systems.
“If a gunshot is fired, we don’t have to wait for anybody to call the police department. There is equipment here that detects where it’s coming from,” he explained.
Regarding ongoing efforts to attract a grocery store, Bond acknowledged the challenges, citing the need for expensive facility upgrades in existing buildings and developers’ reluctance to invest without ownership guarantees.
Aaron Coston: Youth Advocate and Housing Champion
Third Ward Councilman Aaron Coston, a John A. Holmes High School graduate who earned his political science and English degrees from North Carolina Central, entered politics through community activism focused on improving conditions for young people.
Aaron Coston is running against Haywood Coston for the 3rd Ward seat.
His political awakening came through a conversation with a tenant about park conditions. “I said, well, why aren’t your kids at the park? She said, Aaron, have you seen the grass? The grass is above the knee,” Coston recalled. After experiencing bureaucratic delays in getting the issue addressed, he leveraged social media to prompt immediate action.
Coston’s proud of helping secure $800,000 in funding for neighborhood park improvements — $500,000 initially, followed by a $300,000 grant. “I’m very proud of the accomplishments that I made. That was goal number one for me, was the neighborhood parks. In six months, I was able to secure funding.”
As the council’s youngest member, Coston has focused his initiatives on youth-centered improvements while maintaining fiscal responsibility toward all residents.
“Edenton is a tourism town, so that’s the driving force behind our economics, but we can’t neglect our citizens,” he said.
Recent affordable housing efforts have resulted in the acquisition of 11 acres on Coke Avenue specifically designated for workforce housing targeting first responders, teachers, and hospital staff. Using COVID relief funds, the town can offer lots at minimal cost to qualified buyers working with FHA, USDA, and other income-based lending programs.
Coston directly addressed the grocery store question by connecting it to population growth needs.
“The biggest metric that a grocer actually looks for is population within a radius,” he explained, noting that increased rental housing could help meet retailers’ demographic requirements.
Regina Bond: Community Unity and Second Chances
At-large candidate Regina Bond, running her first campaign, emphasized her commitment to representing all areas of Edenton equally.
Regina Bond is running against incumbent Craig Miller for the at-large seat, which covers all of Edenton.
“I choose at large because I feel like the east and the west and the north and the south should be looked at exactly the same. Nobody should be looked over, no ward,” she said.
Bond brings personal experience with the justice system and community mentorship through her Agents of Change youth program.
“I once was a youth that got in trouble, and I did pay my debts to society, but I don’t want our youth to follow in some of these tracks,” she explained, advocating for second chances and reintegration support.
Her platform centers on affordable housing for working families, safe neighborhoods, and economic growth balanced with community needs. “This is a town of the working people. Even though when the tourists come to town, they see a beautiful town, but they don’t see the workers that make this town beautiful.”
Bond acknowledged her nervousness as a first-time candidate but emphasized her authentic motivation: “I’m not a politician. I’m just a real person that seeks real change for the people in our community.”
Addressing youth engagement challenges, Bond noted changes in how young people spend their time. “Things have changed since when I was a youth. A lot of our kids not even excited about that anymore. So we just have to get our kids back being kids again in our community.”
Addressing Systemic Challenges
All three candidates addressed questions about providing activities for youth and combating the factors that lead to problematic behavior. When asked about past failures to establish recreational facilities like bowling alleys due to insurance costs, Regina Bond promised investigation: “Well, I’m gonna find out what’s the problem. We’re gonna figure out what’s going on. Why these no’s are no’s?”
Coston emphasized supporting existing youth organizations rather than creating new ones: “I think there are some great structures in place already, but it’s just a matter of promoting them and fueling them with the resources that they need, whether it’s financial support.”
The candidates showed understanding of interconnected community issues, with Coston noting how business leaders cite lack of rental housing as a major recruitment obstacle, while Bond emphasized the need for community-wide collaboration: “The community has to work together to make this happen.”
Campaign Infrastructure
Regina Bond is building her campaign presence primarily through social media, particularly Facebook, targeting younger voters while expanding to older demographics. Her campaign accepts contributions through “Vote for Regina Bond” on Facebook, Cash App at “Candidate Bonds,” or checks to “Candidate Regina Bond.”
Coston accepts contributions through “Aaron for Council” and emphasized his focus on constituent services and measurable achievements during his current term.
Elton Bond can be contacted at eltonbondjr52@gmail.com