Hope Mills Mayor Jessie Bellflowers has been reelected to a second term, defeating challenger Todd Henderson by a razor-thin margin of 18 votes, according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Bellflowers captured 50.44% of the vote (690 ballots) to Henderson’s 49.12% (672 ballots). Six write-in votes accounted for the remaining 0.44%.
Bellflowers expressed optimism about collaborating with the newly configured town Board of Commissioners, which will see the addition of a few newcomers following losses from incumbents Joanne Scarola and Elyse Craver.
“First, I want to thank every voter who participated in this election. I look forward to a productive four years working with the new board,” Bellflowers told CityView.
“I’m deeply grateful for the trust and confidence the voters have shown. There are significant challenges ahead for this new board, but I believe we will work together effectively for the betterment of our community.”
When asked about the narrow victory, Bellflowers attributed it to widespread frustration from voters over property taxes and the lack of a new recreation center.
“Two issues dominated my conversations with voters all day: property taxes and the need for another parks and recreation facility. Many residents are upset about the tax increases,” Bellflowers said. “I knew this would be a central topic heading into the election. I’m sure Mr. Henderson and I heard the same concerns from constituents. If you look at the final vote tally, the frustration is clear. I told people, ‘I’m not happy about the tax rate either.’”
Challenger Henderson concedes, cites his faith
Henderson thanked his supporters and emphasized that the town’s future remains his priority despite his loss.
“The votes are what they are, and at the end of the day, it’s about the town,” Henderson told CityView. “We’ll see moving forward whether the right decision was made.”
He added that he began thanking voters even before results were finalized.
“I’ve been calling to thank everyone who supported me. Their trust meant more to me than any financial contribution. Everything will unfold in God’s time—there’s a reason it happened this way,” he said.
According to North Carolina law, a candidate in a single-seat race can call for a recount if the difference between votes received by that candidate and the winning candidate is not more than 1% of total votes cast in the race. In the Hope Mills mayoral election, the 18-vote difference between Bellflowers and Henderson is 1.3% of the total votes cast, meaning Henderson is not eligible to call for a recount.
It’s possible this margin could change after the Cumberland County Board of Elections meets Friday to consider provisional ballots across all nine municipalities, though it’s unclear how many of the county’s 125 provisional ballots are in Hope Mills precincts. The county will hold its canvass on Nov. 14 to verify all eligible ballots have been counted correctly and certify the official election results.
Board of Commissioners welcomes new faces
Two incumbent commissioners—Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray and Jerry Legge, who retired after 27 years of service—did not seek reelection this year, opening the door for fresh leadership.
According to the unofficial results, the new five-person Hope Mills Board of Commissioners will include:
- Hope Page, who received 799 votes (13.26%)
- Former Commissioner Grilley Mitchell, who received 685 votes (11.37%)
- Incumbent Commissioner Bryan Marley, who received 645 votes (10.71%)
- Cynthia Hamilton, who received 627 votes (10.41%)
- Lisa Tremmel, who received 622 votes (10.32%)
Voters elected three newcomers to the board: Page, Hamilton, and Tremmel. Incumbents Elyse Craver (who received 597 votes or 9.91%) and Joanne Scarola (590 votes or 9.79%) were defeated in their reelection bids.
Scarola could not be reached for comment.
Craver told CityView though she was very thankful for support from voters, she felt relief at the results of Election Day.
“I’m really not disappointed because I don’t have to put up with what I’ve put up with for two years on that board,” Craver said. The 78-year-old commissioner has previously stated she has received offensive comments about her age by others on town staff.
Craver was censured last month by her fellow commissioners for allegedly making a racially discriminatory comment, which an attorney conducting a personnel investigation into Craver said she “more likely than not” made.
Newcomer receives most votes
Hope Page, who received the highest number of votes at 799 (13.26%) for the commissioner race, told CityView she was humbled by the experience in this year’s municipal election.
“I appreciate each and every person that came out and voted for me and just exercised their voice in general with a vote,” Page wrote in a text message.
“My goals are to continue to absorb, learn and grow to ensure I am ensuring the best outcome for all now and in the future,” she said.
Staggered terms take effect
On July 7, the board approved a charter amendment introducing four-year staggered terms for commissioners. With Bellflowers retaining the mayoral seat, the top three vote-getters in the commissioners’ race will serve four-year terms, while the fourth and fifth place vote-getters will serve two-year terms.
Per unofficial results, Page, Mitchell, and Marley will serve four-year terms, and Hamilton and Tremmel will serve two-year terms. Bellflowers, as mayor, will serve a four-year term.