Tuesday’s municipal primary election only includes contested primaries in Fayetteville, but in Spring Lake, a November mayoral contest is shaping up between former alderwoman Fredricka Sutherland and incumbent Mayor Kia Anthony.
The two women — both Democrats in a non–partisan race — are vying to lead the governing board of a town which has seen much change and controversy in the last two years.
With allegations of missing money and financial disarray, the state’s Local Government Commission voted in July 2021 to take control of the town’s finances, including impounding the books and records of the town, and overseeing and directing all of its financial affairs.
The financial mess helped pave the way to a victory for Anthony in November 2021, who took the mayoral race with 333 votes to Sutherland’s 237 votes. A third candidate, Jackie Jackson, received 93 votes.
When the Office of the State Auditor released its 56-page investigative audit report in March 2022, a few months after the last election, Sutherland said she found vindication when former finance director Gay Tucker was found to have used more than $400,000 in town funds for personal use, and that Spring Lake employees had spent around $100,000 in town funds on questionable credit card purchases.
A subsequent investigation showed Tucker embezzled $567,070 between 2016 and 2021. She has since been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of embezzlement from a local government receiving federal funds and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“I worked in finance for over 30 years at Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union,” Sutherland said. “I knew something was wrong so I asked for forensic audits more than once and even called the Local Government Commission for help while I was in office when our audit was not done. I also voted against the finance director position because she was not qualified. I was often the lone vote against spending.”
Sutherland said it was her love for this community and her professional background in finance that has residents asking her to run for mayor again in 2023.
“When the Local Government Commission does leave our town, I will be able to maintain the policies and procedures, continuing to watch our spending and making sure that every purchase is documented,” she said. “It’s what I’ve done my entire career and I have continued to watch the town’s finances, whether in office or not. I will continue to stand up for our citizens to make sure bank reconciliations are done daily and audits are completed annually.”
A former Army wife, Sutherland, 62, has lived in Spring Lake for 44 years. In addition to her years in finance, Sutherland is also an ordained minister who attends church in Spring Lake and is working towards a degree in Biblical Sciences at the Carolina College of Biblical Studies in Fayetteville. She and her husband Frank raised two children, Vonshiricka and Frank Jr., in Spring Lake and live in Woodland West.
“This is where my husband retired and where we raised our children, who went to Spring Lake schools from Mae Rudd Elementary, Lillian Black Elementary and Spring Lake Middle School,” said Sutherland.
Sutherland ran for office in 2005 and spent 16 years on the town’s Board of Aldermen before running for mayor the last election cycle.
“I have been embedded in this community for more than 40 years,” she said. “It is going to take a leader who knows our community, who knows our military neighbors and who can manage our finances so we can grow and thrive as a town. I’m strong and dependable. I believe in accountability and transparency.”
Her top priorities are continuing to keep the town’s finances in order, working on completing sidewalks, replacing aging infrastructure and promoting business and economic growth.
“The appearance of the town makes a huge difference,” Sutherland said. “I’m serving as the chair of the Spring Lake Appearance and Sustainability Committee. I believe in listening to citizens and doing my research. A good leader is a good listener.”
Anthony: promoting transparency, fostering partnerships
Anthony, 42, also believes she can make a difference with a second term as mayor.
“I'm running for mayor because I'm deeply committed to Spring Lake's growth and prosperity. It's my duty to ensure our community thrives, and I'm dedicated to that mission,” she said. “I have a proven track record of balancing budgets, achieving financial stability and delivering tangible results for Spring Lake. I'm committed to progress and ensuring a prosperous future for our town.”
As a veteran and mother, Anthony said her unique blend of experiences and love for Spring Lake will help as the town continues to make strides.
“Spring Lake has been my home for two decades, where I've woven the threads of my life into the vibrant fabric of this community,” she said. “My journey includes pursuing higher education at Fayetteville State University, gaining extensive leadership training throughout my military career, and earning several certifications from multiple educational institutes that have sharpened my skills.”
Along with her entrepreneurial work as the founder of her business Just Cactus, the Greater Sandhills Chamber and Circa 1865, Anthony says her background will help the town.
“With this unique blend of experiences and a profound love for Spring Lake, I stand ready to continue leading us toward an even brighter future,” she said. “My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive. I believe in listening to the community, valuing diverse perspectives, and making decisions that benefit everyone.”
Anthony said her top priorities include fostering economic development for job growth and opportunities, enhancing community infrastructure to improve residents' quality of life and prioritizing youth development and engagement to invest in our town's future.
“Spring Lake needs strong, accountable leadership. I'll address this by promoting transparency, fostering partnerships, and working tirelessly to address challenges and seize opportunities,” said Anthony.
Recently, the town has seen the Local Government Commission praise the town for hiring interim town manager Jason Williams, who also serves as the town’s fire chief, while it continues to search for a permanent manager and finance director. It was a near miss, however, when, in October 2022, the board voted 3-2 to hire Justine Jones, who made national news in Kenly after the police force — including the chief — resigned, citing a hostile work environment as a new town manager.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced three days after that vote that he would not approve the funding citing the potential for legal and financial liabilities and the potential adverse impact on town morale.
Since then, the town has received positive accolades for rebuilding the once-depleted general fund and for its conservation in spending.
The town election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Along with Anthony and Sutherland running for mayor, there are nine candidates for aldermen including incumbents Robyn Chadwick, Sona Cooper, Marvin Lackman, Raul Palacios, Adrian Thompson. Challengers include Katrina Bratcher, Daniel Gerald, Jackie Lee Jackson and James O’Garra. The top five vote getters out of the nine aldermen will win seats on the board.
