Below is a list of the candidates who have filed to run in the 2025 municipal elections in Cumberland County.
Residents in November will elect mayors, council members and board members in 10 jurisdictions. These are Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Eastover, the Eastover Sanitary District, Linden, Godwin, Falcon, Wade, and Stedman.
This the filing period started at 8 a.m. July 7 and ended at noon July 18. This list was updated through the filing period.
Fayetteville will have a primary on Oct. 7. The general elections for Fayetteville and the other municipalities and the Eastover Sanitary District are Nov. 4.
The Eastover Sanitary District is a local government that provides water and sewer service in the Eastover area. It is separate from the Town of Eastover.
The elections are nonpartisan. This means anyone can run, even if they are not a Democrat or a Republican.
In Fayetteville’s October primaries, all candidates of all political registrations will run against each other. The top two vote-getters from each race will advance to the general elections in November.
Each entry below lists the candidates and the dates they filed. Candidate names are listed alphabetically.
Latest update: The county Board of Elections staff released a final list after the filings closed at noon on July 18.
Fayetteville
Mayor
- John Ashford, July 17
- Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, July 18
- Mario “Be” Benavente, July 7
- Mitch Colvin (incumbent), July 18
- Freddie de la Cruz, July 7
- Kathy Keefe Jensen, July 7
- Clifton L. Johnson, July 17
- Nahlee Iris Smith, July 10
- Tisha S. Waddell, July 18
- Paul Williams, July 8
Fayetteville City Council District 1
- Jamie Davis, July 7
- Stephon Ferguson, July 7
- Theodore Melkoumov, July 17
- James L. Thomas III, July 8
Fayetteville City Council District 2
- Malik Davis (incumbent), July 7
- Gail Morfesis, July 16
- Joseph (Joey) Thames, July 17
Fayetteville City Council District 3
- Antonio Jones, July 7
- Jeremy Wright, July 14
Fayetteville City Council District 4
- Stuart A. Collick, July 10
- D.J. Haire (incumbent), July 7
Fayetteville City Council District 5
- Lynne Bissette Greene (incumbent), July 7
Rick Murillo, July 16Withdrew from the election on Aug. 14
Fayetteville City Council District 6
- Kenneth E. Odegard II, July 18
- Derrick Thompson (incumbent), July 9
Fayetteville City Council District 7
- Dwight France, July 17
- J’Kwan Fulmore, July 18
- Kathy A. Greggs, July 18
- Brenda McNair (incumbent), July 18
Khalil Younger, July 14Withdrew, but will still be on the ballot. Votes for him will not count.
Fayetteville City Council District 8
Courtney Banks-Mclaughlin (incumbent), July 15Withdrew July 18 to run for mayor- Rodney E. Garvin, July 18
- Mahmoud A. (Travis) Hamed, July 16
- Shaun McMillan, July 18
Robbie Poole, July 17Withdrew, but will still be on the ballot. Votes for him will not count.
Fayetteville City Council District 9
- Deno Hondros (incumbent), July 7
- Gary A. Hunt, July 9
- Joe McGee, July 15
Hope Mills
Hope Mills mayor
- Jessie Bellflowers (incumbent), July 7
- Todd Henderson, July 9
Hope Mills Board of Commissioners
- Elyse Craver (incumbent), July 14
- Cynthia Hamilton, July 17
- Mark Hess, July 8
- Bryan A. Marley (incumbent), July 7
- Grilley J. Mitchell, July 8
- Hope Page, July 18
- Karen Smith Saracen, July 18
- Joanne Scarola (incumbent), July 10
- Ronald Starling, July 7
- Lisa F. Tremmel, July 18
Spring Lake
Spring Lake mayor
- Kia Anthony (incumbent), July 7
- Robyn Chadwick, July 18
Spring Lake Board of Commissioners
- Ryan C. Anderson, July 17
- Stachia Arnold, July 18
- Katrina Bell Bratcher, July 18
- Tony Burgess, July 18
- Sona L. Cooper (incumbent), July 7
- Jackie Lee Jackson, July 17
- Mary C. Jackson, July 7
- Dedra Parker, July 18
- Tyrone Short, July 18
- Fredericka Sutherland, July 18
- Adrian Jones Thompson (incumbent), July 18
Eastover Sanitary District
Eastover Sanitary District Board Members
- Helen Crumpler (incumbent), July 14
- Liz Reeser (incumbent), July 17
Eastover
Eastover Mayor
- Charles G. McLaurin (incumbent), July 7
Eastover Town Council
- Wayne Beard, Jr., July 15
- Kimberly F. McPhail (incumbent), July 14
- Bruce Sykes (incumbent), July 11
Falcon
Falcon mayor
- James Danny Nelson, Jr., July 15
- Clifton L. Turpin, Jr., July 7
Falcon Board of Commissioners
- Sue Brigman, July 9
- R. Dwayne Dunning (incumbent), July 14
- Dylan H. Ivey, July 14
- Chip Lucas, July 17
- Chris Stone, July 11
- Phillip J. Walters, July 11
Godwin
Godwin mayor
- Willie Burnette (incumbent), July 14
Godwin Board of Commissioners
- George Cooper, Jr., (incumbent) July 11
- Scarlet McIntyre Hall (incumbent), July 7
- Ronald McNeill (incumbent), July 18
- Dennis C. Smith, Sr., July 17
- Joseph Smith (incumbent), July 15
Linden
Linden mayor
- Frances Collier (incumbent), July 16
Linden Board of Commissioners
- Jonathan Collier (incumbent), July 18
- Barbara C. Denning (incumbent), July 16
- Michael Hough, July 17
- Ronnie S. Maness (incumbent), July 18
- (One more is needed for the five seats on the board. Candidates can be written in.)
Stedman
Stedman mayor
Martin (Mardy) Jones (incumbent), July 15
Stedman Board of Commissioners
- Louis Wood (incumbent), July 18
- Wilbert Hairr, July 23
- Justin White, July 24
- Michael R. Hall, July 24
- Melinda B. Murray, July 25
- Bradley Roberts, July 28
- Harvey L. Cain, Jr., July 29
Wade
Wade mayor
- Johnny Lanthorn (incumbent), July 8
Wade Board of Commissioners
- Kevin Herring (incumbent), July 8
- Beth Ritchie (incumbent), July 7
- Johnny B. Sawyer (incumbent), July 16
- George E. Strater, July 15
- Jennifer Dixon Weaver (incumbent), July 16
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