Former Sen. Kirk deViere will have a shot at elected office again after emerging as the top vote-getter during Tuesday’s Democratic primary elections for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners race.
DeViere netted 7,626 votes, or 32.82%, on Tuesday. Incumbent Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart and Karla Icaza came in second and third place, respectively, with Stewart receiving 6,751 votes, or 29.05% of votes cast, and Icaza getting 4,445 votes, or 19.13%. Ronald Pittman came in a very close fourth place with 19% of the votes, just 30 votes behind Icaza, meaning he could ask for a recount.
DeViere told CityView he was “honored” by the support he received.
“I’m thankful that people in our community are ready to put me back to work,” he said. “Now more than ever, we need leaders that are focused on strengthening our community, not dividing it.”
Stewart told CityView she felt good about Tuesday’s primary results, noting the tight race between Icaza and Pittman.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us, but I think that we can do it,” she said.
Stewart said she believed voters put their trust in her because of the work she has done thus far as a commissioner.
“They’ve seen my support of our community,” she said, noting that she first ran on issues of GenX contamination, homelessness and mental health.
Stewart highlighted the recent groundbreaking of the county’s homeless support center as an example of her commitment to her campaign promises.
“I’m doing what I said I’d do,” she said.
Icaza told CityView she felt she’d performed well but would not ask for a recount or a runoff if Pittman ended up in third place when results were certified.
“I will back up Kirk [deViere] and Mr. Pittman if he goes through,” she said. “I think the work in the community doesn’t stop here. I won’t ask for a recount or anything like that. I will just get behind the other candidates.”
Icaza said she believes her work in the community speaks for itself, noting previous work in suicide prevention at Fayetteville’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
“I have a lot of experience,” she said. “I really just think that people will see my work in the community, and we’ll see. The numbers will tell, I guess.”
Pittman told CityView he won’t decide if he will ask for a recount or a runoff until the votes are certified in Tuesday’s race.
“Things could change,” he said. “So it all depends on what happens.”
Pittman said he visited many polling sites Tuesday because he knew Stewart and deViere had name recognition with voters.
“I knew it was going to be down between myself and Karla [Icaza],” he said. “I knew that we had to work. I’m not happy, but I’m happy. I’m happy that I came as close as I did.”
Three seats will be up for grabs in November’s general election.
This story will be updated as more information comes in.
Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.
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