A flurry of last minute filing Friday left no vacant slots on municipal ballots in Columbus County, although a number of seats are unopposed.
Bolton, Chadbourn, Cerro Gordo, Fair Bluff, Lake Waccamaw, Sandyfield, Tabor City, Whiteville and Brunswick all have town board and in some cases mayoral seats on the ballot. Municipal Election day is Nov. 7.
In Bolton, Randolph Pringle, Jimmy Wayne Bowen Sr., Eugene Neal, Ruth Waddell and Cynthia Laverne Mitchell have filed for alderman as of Tuesday. Shawn Maynor is unopposed in his reelection run for mayor. The mayor and three aldermen seats are on the ballot.
In Brunswick, Everlene Davis, Shirley Moore, Jaqueline Louise Williams-Roland, Jason Elleby, Ricky Lee Mason and Curtis Lamont Hill have filed for the two open seats and one unexpired term on the ballot this year. Brunswick commissioners choose a mayor at the first meeting of a new board.
Sandyfield Mayor Garry Keaton is unopposed, while Randolph Keaton, Joe Brown and Azalie Graham are in the running for the two town council seats.
Ruth Haynes and Myles Cartrette are challenging incumbent mayor Phillip Britt in Chadbourn, with incumbents Colene “Tootie” Kelly Faulk, James Green and Danny Clewis facing Antonio Ashley and Tony Carson Jordan for the three town council seats.
Cerro Gordo Mayor David White is unopposed, and David Prince, Brenda McKenzie and Pamela Specht have no challengers for the three seats on the town council.
In Fair Bluff, Spruell Britt is running for the unexpired seat on the board of commissioners. Rob Taylor, Kathy Horne Ashley and Ralph Daniel McCoy have filed to run for the two regular terms that are open on the board.
Lake Waccamaw’s two races have unopposed candidates. Joseph Karl Bracey has signed up to run for the East Ward seat and Terry Littrell has filed for reelection for West Ward commissioner.
In Tabor City, Mayor Royce Harper is unopposed for reelection. There are four council hopefuls: incumbents Emory Cox and David Mincey will face Kelly Beck and Nelson Lee. Two board positions are open this year.
There’s a full slate of candidates for the pair Whiteville District One seats on the city council. Incumbents Emory Worley and Kevin Williamson face challenges from William “Alex” Meeks, Shaq Davis and Joshua Harris. Incumbent Mayor Terry Mann and incumbent Councilman Jimmy Clarida are unopposed.
This year marks the first time Voter ID will be required. In addition to driver’s licenses and other forms of government-issued identification, voters may obtain a no-cost identification card at the board of elections prior to early voting. Voters may also file a form to be excused from using Voter ID and cast a provisional ballot.
