Every seat on the Spring Lake Board of Commissioners, as well as the position of mayor, will be on the ballot in this fall’s municipal elections. Several candidates are vying for the positions.
While some commissioners may be new and others could return to town hall, the new board will have to contend with several long-standing issues and projects during their terms. Let’s break it down.
Who’s on the ballot?
Spring Lake’s board of commissioners does not operate on staggered terms, which means that when a municipal election cycle occurs, all five commissioner seats and the mayoral office are in the race. Each of these offices hold four-year terms, a change from the previous two-year terms. Two current commissioners — Marvin Lackman and Raul Palacios — will not be seeking reelection. Here’s a list of candidates that are currently running for elected positions in Spring Lake:
Spring Lake Mayor
- Kia Anthony (incumbent)
- Robyn Chadwick
Spring Lake Board of Commissioners
- Sona L. Cooper (incumbent)
- Adrian Jones Thompson (incumbent)
- Ryan C. Anderson
- Stachia Arnold
- Katrina Bell Bratcher
- Tony Burgess
- Jackie Lee Jackson
- Mary C. Jackson
- Dedra Parker
- Tyrone Short
- Fredericka Sutherland
For a complete list of candidates in municipal election races, visit Cumberland County’s current candidate list.
Key issues in Spring Lake
In recent years, Spring Lake has faced several issues that new commissioners will have to work to resolve, including the revitalization of town infrastructure, drawing in new economic development opportunities and the continuation of town services at their current level or higher.
Commissioner Marvin Lackman said that the aging water and sewer systems throughout Spring Lake will likely be a key issue that the incoming board will contend with.
Lackman told CityView that Spring Lake’s water and sewer systems have been neglected for the past two decades. The systems have been plagued with leaks, holes and other damage. In December 2024, commissioners voted to increase water and sewer rates by 17% in order to generate revenue to address issues with the systems, like replacing damaged sections of pipes and fixing leaks, and these repairs remain ongoing. Commissioners at the time acknowledged that those rate hikes would impact residents with higher utility bills. At the meeting to approve the new rates, Commissioner Robyn Chadwick said the rate increase was a difficult decision, but she believed it had to be done in order to make the necessary repairs.
At a meeting in April 2025, town officials presented several strategic priorities for Spring Lake in the coming years. The revitalization of town infrastructure and a push to reduce blighted properties in the town topped the list of priorities. At that meeting, town officials said they will seek funding for revitalization projects through public and private sources, and through grant opportunities. After the new board is sworn in in early December, they will be tasked with progressing and seeing these projects to completion.
Other key issues that the current board outlined includes creating a “safe, vibrant and healthy community” by increasing public safety efforts and aiming to increase the availability of affordable housing in the town.
Lackman, who was first elected to the board in 2021, offered a piece of advice to any potential new elected officials in Spring Lake.
“Listen to the residents, get involved, get the residents involved and make Spring Lake better,” Lackman said.
Cumberland County Municipal Elections will take place on Nov. 4, with the early voting period beginning on Oct. 16. For more election information, visit CityView’s guide to municipal elections.
