KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) - A protest has been filed against a candidate running for a Kinston city council seat, saying she isn’t qualified to hold office.

Lenoir County Republican Chair Sean Kenan wants Quarla Blackwell removed from November’s ballot.

Kenan, who is also a Kinston attorney, says Blackwell is on probation for a 2022 conviction and thus is ineligible to hold office.

His complaint, which was filed on Thursday, says Blackwell made an Alford plea on March 20, 2023, to attempt to flee to elude arrest and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation.

He says that when she filed for office on July 14th, Blackwell did disclose a felony conviction but said her citizenship rights were restored as of 2025.

WITN has left multiple messages with Blackwell for any comments on the

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