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Scott Andrews (Mayor of New Bern, North Carolina, candidate 2025)
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Scott Andrews ran for election for Mayor of New Bern in North Carolina. He was on the ballot in the general election on October 7, 2025.[source]
Andrews completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Scott Andrews provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 7, 2025:
- Birth date: January 27, 1989
- Birth place: New Bern, North Carolina
- High school: New Bern High School
- Bachelor's: North Carolina State University, 2007
- Gender: Male
- Religion: Christian
- Profession: Marketing
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of New Bern
Jeffrey Odham and Holly Raby ran in the general runoff election for Mayor of New Bern on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Jeffrey Odham (Nonpartisan)  | |
| Holly Raby (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
General election
General election for Mayor of New Bern
Scott Andrews, Gregory Ryan Fahy, Jeffrey Odham, and Holly Raby ran in the general election for Mayor of New Bern on October 7, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Scott Andrews (Nonpartisan) | |
| Gregory Ryan Fahy (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Jeffrey Odham (Nonpartisan) | |
| Holly Raby (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Andrews in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Scott Andrews completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Andrews' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Scott Andrews, a lifelong New Bern resident who has built his career around connecting people, solving problems, and strengthening community. I grew up here, went to NC State where I earned a degree in Communication with a minor in Coaching, and I’ve spent my professional life working in media, marketing, and small business development.
Right now, I serve as the Marketing Director at Zannis Plastic Surgery and run my own company, Viral Vox Marketing, where I work with local business owners every day to help them grow, tell their story, and maximize their investment. Earlier in my career, I was a TV news producer at Channel 12 and even co-founded Table Takeout, New Bern’s first restaurant delivery service.
But beyond work, I’ve spent the last 15 years as a baseball coach at New Bern High School and with several travel teams. Coaching has been one of my greatest passions because it lets me give back to kids in this community the same way so many coaches and mentors gave to me.
At my core, I’m not a politician — I’m a neighbor. I love this town, I love the people in it, and I want to use my skills in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork to bring people together and make sure every voice in New Bern is heard.- 1. Smarter Spending. Stronger New Bern. My top priority is making sure every tax dollar works harder for the people of New Bern. Too much of our budget is tied up in inefficiencies, and the solution isn’t raising taxes — it’s spending smarter. By expanding smart infrastructure such as AI-powered streetlights, leak detection systems, and better budgeting tools, we can save hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Those savings will be reinvested into the things that matter most: safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, youth programs, and preserving our historic character. I want voters to remember that I’m focused on solutions, not politics, and that I will always look for innovative, cost-effective ways to strengthen our community.
- 2. Independent by Choice. Inclusive by Nature. I am not running as a politician or as a representative of a party. I’m running as a neighbor who loves this city and wants to see it thrive. My campaign is built on the idea of inclusion: No Red. No Blue. Just New Bern. This race isn’t about parties or politics — it’s about people. I want every resident, regardless of background or belief, to know their voice matters and deserves to be heard. My independence allows me to focus on what’s best for our city without being told what to say by a political party. Voters should remember that I will be a mayor for everyone — one city, one future, all voices.
- 3. Investing in People, Not Politics. The strongest investment we can make is in our people. For me, that means expanding opportunities for youth, supporting teachers, and elevating service industry workers who form the backbone of our local economy. I’ve been a coach for 15 years, and I’ve seen firsthand how mentorship and encouragement can change lives. I want to create programs that prepare our young people for the digital age while keeping them grounded in real, face-to-face connections. I believe in rewarding teachers with the resources and incentives they need to succeed, and in building pathways for service industry workers to grow into leaders and entrepreneurs. If voters remember one thing, it’s that my campaign is about people.
My campaign is built around PEOPLE and built on three key messages that all directly impact every person inside of the City and beyond. First, Smarter Spending. Stronger New Bern. I believe in innovation and accountability, saving tax dollars through efficiency instead of raising taxes, and reinvesting savings into roads, housing, and youth. Second, Independent by choice, inclusive by nature. I’m not running for a party, but for the people — one city, one future, all voices. And third, Investing in PEOPLE, not politics. That means supporting teachers, lifting up service industry workers, and giving our youth opportunities to succeed.
The most important characteristics of an elected official are integrity, transparency, and empathy. Integrity means making decisions based on what’s right for the people, not what’s politically convenient. Transparency means being open and honest with residents, even when the news is difficult, and making sure they feel informed instead of left in the dark. And empathy means listening first, understanding people’s struggles, and treating everyone with respect. An elected official should be a servant-leader: accountable, collaborative, and focused on solutions, not politics.
The core responsibilities of a mayor are to listen, connect, and lead with transparency. A mayor should ensure that every alderman has the information and resources they need to represent their ward effectively. They must manage the city’s budget responsibly, prioritize public safety, maintain infrastructure, and foster economic growth. Just as importantly, they should unite the community by keeping residents informed, creating space for collaboration, and making City Hall a place where all voices are heard. At its core, this office is about service — solving problems with people, not politics.
The event that sticks out to me the most is 9/11. I remember that day well. And I felt a bit more connected because four years earlier, in 1997, I had the opportunity the visit the North Tower (WTC 1) from the top observation deck on the 107th floor.
I saw what it looked like from up there first hand, so it affected me a little bit harder than it might have affected others around me.
I saw what it looked like from up there first hand, so it affected me a little bit harder than it might have affected others around me.
I worked in tobacco fields as a farm hand in Trenton, NC. My job was to make sure all of the steel rods were put into the tobacco box before going in the barns to dry out.
My favorite book is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It’s a reminder that the present moment is where life really happens, and that we often miss opportunities for connection and growth by worrying about the past or future. The book taught me the value of being present — whether that’s listening to a neighbor, mentoring a student, or working with a business owner. As a leader, I believe presence is one of the most powerful tools we have. When you’re truly present, people feel heard, respected, and valued. That mindset shapes the way I approach both my personal life and my vision for New Bern — focusing less on politics and noise, and more on the people and solutions right in front of us.
To me, being a mayor means leading as a servant first, not a politician. A mayor isn’t just someone who sits at City Hall — they’re out in the community, listening, connecting, and setting the tone for how people work together. Leadership means uniting residents around shared goals, creating trust through transparency, and making sure decisions are made with the people, not above them. It’s not me versus you, it’s us versus the problem. A mayor should be a coach as much as a leader — helping others succeed, raising the energy in the room, and inspiring the community to believe in itself. At the end of the day, being mayor is about love for the city and service to its people.
With a city manager handling day-to-day operations, the mayor’s top priority should be fostering communication, collaboration, and trust between the council, the manager, and the community. The mayor should focus on setting vision and priorities, ensuring the city manager has clear direction and accountability, and making sure aldermen are fully informed so they can best represent their wards. Just as importantly, the mayor should be the city’s connector — uniting residents, businesses, and organizations, keeping the public engaged and informed, and ensuring that decisions are transparent and community-driven. The role is less about managing tasks and more about leading people, solving problems, and inspiring confidence in the future of the city.
The ideal relationship between the mayor and city council should be rooted in respect, transparency, and teamwork. The council represents the people of each ward, and the mayor’s role is to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed through effective administration. That means keeping lines of communication open, providing aldermen with timely and accurate information, and working collaboratively rather than competitively. While the council sets policy, the mayor should execute those policies faithfully, with a focus on accountability and efficiency. At its best, this relationship is like a coach and a team: the council defines the plays, and the mayor helps make sure they’re carried out effectively. When both roles work in harmony, the entire city benefits.
What do I love most about my city? That’s the a loaded question.
There is no place with a stronger embrace. The people are warm, the history is endless, the sunsets paint the history of tomorrow, and sunrises ignite energy for the day ahead.
Slow walks downtown turn into the present into the past. Quiet thoughts by the rivers shift confusion to clarity.
New Bern’s greatest challenges over the next decade will be balancing growth with affordability, maintaining infrastructure, and keeping our community connected. As more people move here, we must ensure housing stays within reach for working families while protecting the historic character that makes New Bern unique. With 240 miles of roads and 80 miles of ditches to maintain, infrastructure funding will also be a constant challenge. At the same time, we need to manage utility costs and prepare for storms and emergencies in a way that keeps residents safe and bills stable. Finally, one of the biggest challenges is not just physical but social — making sure communication, transparency, and trust keep pace with growth, so all voices are heard and no neighborhood feels left behind.
The ideal relationship between New Bern and the state government should be one of partnership, respect, and open communication. The city should advocate strongly for the needs of its residents — from infrastructure funding and disaster preparedness to economic development and education support — while working collaboratively with state leaders to find solutions. At the same time, the state should respect local decision-making and the unique character of New Bern, allowing us the flexibility to address challenges in ways that work best for our community. In my view, the relationship works best when both sides recognize that we share the same goal: building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities across North Carolina. By maintaining transparency, trust, and a focus on people over politics, the city and state can accomplish more together than apart.
The ideal relationship between New Bern and the federal government should be one of collaboration, advocacy, and accountability. Our city should actively pursue federal resources — from infrastructure and housing grants to disaster relief and small business support — while ensuring those funds are used transparently and efficiently for the benefit of residents. At the same time, the federal government should view New Bern as a partner, listening to local concerns and respecting the unique needs of our community rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions. By building strong partnerships with federal agencies and elected officials, we can secure the resources we need to strengthen public safety, improve infrastructure, and prepare for challenges like hurricanes and rising costs. Ultimately, the relationship should be rooted in service to the people: federal support leveraged by local leadership to create meaningful improvements in daily life.
The ideal relationship between the mayor’s office and law enforcement should be based on trust, accountability, and collaboration. A mayor must support officers by ensuring they have the resources, training, and staffing needed to keep our community safe, while also holding leadership to the highest standards of transparency and professionalism. Communication is key — the mayor should maintain an open line with law enforcement leadership, while also listening to residents to ensure community concerns are addressed fairly. At its best, this relationship builds a culture of mutual respect: officers know the city has their back, and citizens know their voices matter. Public safety works best when it is not “us versus them,” but all of us working together to build safe, strong, and connected neighborhoods.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
