All the candidates in Tarboro's upcoming election Tuesday are optimistic.

And why not? Each one reports their campaigning is going well.

Of course, only one person will be elected mayor and one person will be elected to Town Council in Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7. Fourteen are running.

In Ward 1, incumbent Buck Price is facing challenges from Gerrelene Walker and newcomer John Wooten.

"I feel pretty good." said Price, 84. "I've worked harder than before. It's gonna be close, I'm pretty sure."

Four years ago, Price defeated Walker by 21 votes.

"I think things are going pretty well," said Walker, 62. "I have some people working for me in the neighborhoods."

A woman has never been elected to Tarboro's Town Council. Ward 1 is mostly female (421 to 313).

It's also mostly white (376 to 347). Wooten is black.

"I have been going door-door," he said, "and I have a pretty good feeling."

Wooten, 64, said one neighbor took him to a football game the other day, but he's also lost a couple campaign signs to vandalism.

Rick Page, 63, is unopposed in Ward 3 because Danny Hayes declined to run after 14 years on council. Page has posted signs and campaigned.

"I just want people to know that I am serious about the job," he said. "I'm not taking anything for granted."

In Ward 5, incumbent John Jenkins is seeking a fourth term.

"I feel good about it," said Jenkins, 65. "People have told me they will vote for me."