Charles Evans, a former member of the Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, said in a news release Tuesday evening that he will file on Friday as a candidate for mayor in the upcoming municipal elections.

Evans would compete with incumbent Mitch Colvin and challenger Freddie de la Cruz in the mayoral contest.

Evans served for four years on the Fayetteville City Council representing District 2 and 12 years on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners as an at-large member, according to his news release.

“Our top priority in this community must be the people,” Evans said in the release. “Fayetteville residents deserve to feel safe, and we can’t stop until we achieve that for everyone. Our community will never be truly great for any of us until it is great for all of us. We must also give our police the resources to keep our community safe.”

Evans lost his bid for the Democratic nomination for the 7th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022.

In candidate filings on Monday, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin is seeking reelection to the Fayetteville City Council, representing District 8, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections website.

Ronnie Strong filed for a seat on the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners.

In Falcon, Wayne G. Lucas filed for mayor on Monday and John C. Wheeler and Dwayne Dunning Sr. filed for seats on the town board on Tuesday. Challenger Sue Brigman also is running for town commissioner.

The race for Linden commissioner has picked up two more candidates. Incumbents Betsy Small filed Monday, and Larry Overby filed Tuesday for reelection.

Dani Osborne filed for a seat on the Cumberland-Eastover Sanitary District board on Tuesday.

Earlier filings

In several City Council districts, the incumbents have filed to retain their seats while challengers have emerged in two districts. They are:

  • District 1: Incumbent Kathy Keefe Jensen.
  • District 2: Incumbent Shakeyla Ingram and challengers Laura Rodrigues Mussler and Janene (Dublin) Ackles.
  • District 3: Incumbent Mario (Be) Benavente.
  • District 4: Incumbent D.J. Haire.
  • District 5: Incumbent Johnny Dawkins and challengers Fred G. LaChance III, Justin Herbe and Lynne Bissette Greene.
  • District 6: Incumbent Derrick Thompson.
  • District 7: Incumbent Brenda McNair.
  • District 8: Incumbent Courtney Banks-McLaughlin.
  • District 9: Incumbent Deno Hondros.

In the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners race, candidates include challengers Ronnie Strong, Pat Edwards, Mark Hess, Deanna L. Rosario and Karen Smith Saracen, as well as incumbents Bryan A. Marley, Kenjuana McCray, Jerry Legge, Grilley Mitchell and Joanne Scarola.

Incumbent Mayor Jackie Warner faces challenger Jessie Bellflowers, who served on the Board of Commissioners from 2017 to 2021.

Other candidates

The filings in other Cumberland County municipalities include:

  • Spring Lake: Candidates include challengers Daniel B. Gerald, Jackie Lee Jackson and Katrina (Bell) Bratcher and incumbents Robyn Chadwick, Sona L. Cooper, Adrian Jones Thompson, Marvin Lackman and Raul Palacios. Spring Lake Mayor Kia Anthony filed for reelection.
  • Stedman: Incumbent Mark Lee is seeking reelection to the Board of Commissioners, joining challenger Joseph Manuel on the ballot.
  • Godwin: Challenger Angela Burnette Lambert and incumbents George Cooper Jr. and Scarlet M. Hall have filed for the Board of Commissioners. Godwin Mayor Willie Burnette filed for reelection on Wednesday.
  • Eastover: Mayor Charles McLaurin is seeking reelection, and Frederick A. Williams and incumbent Stan Crumpler filed for a seat on the Town Council.
  • Linden: Frances B. Collier filed as a challenger for mayor, and Barbara C. Denning as a challenger for the Board of Commissioners. Incumbent board members Betsy Small filed for reelection on Monday, and Larry Overby filed Tuesday.
  • Wade: Commissioners Jennifer Dixon Weaver and Keven A. Herring are seeking reelection. Johnny Lanthorn filed as a challenger in the mayor’s race.

Filing deadlines

Candidates can file for all municipal elections through noon July 21, according to the Board of Elections. 

The city of Fayetteville primary is scheduled Oct. 10, and the general election for all municipalities is Nov. 7.

Municipal offices that will be on the ballot include:

  • Fayetteville: mayor, all nine City Council seats.
  • Eastover Sanitary District: one board member.
  • Eastover: mayor, three town council seats.
  • Falcon: mayor, all four council seats.
  • Godwin: mayor, all four council seats.
  • Hope Mills: mayor, all five council seats.
  • Linden: mayor, all five council seats.
  • Spring Lake: mayor, all five council seats.
  • Stedman: three council seats.
  • Wade: mayor, all five council seats.

Anyone who is registered to vote in the contest in which they would run can file a candidacy. Voters do not have to belong to a political party to run for municipal office.

The only other eligibility requirement is to be 21 or older on Election Day. Any candidate who has been convicted of a felony must also disclose that information when filing for office. 

To file a candidacy, candidates must complete a notice of candidacy form at the Cumberland County Board of Elections in the E. Newton Smith Center at 227 Fountainhead Lane. Alternatively, candidates can have the form notarized and delivered to the Board of Elections office.

Additional information about candidate petitions is available at https://www.ncsbe.gov/candidates/petitions.

Prospective candidates can find more information and forms by visiting the Board of Elections website at Board of Elections website.

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Contact editor Bobby Parker at bparker@cityviewnc.com.