Good morning. Reversing his decision that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor of Fayetteville, Mayor Mitch Colvin filed for reelection Friday morning, shortly before the filing period ended at noon.
Colvin previously announced in June that he would not run again, as he wanted to spend more time with family and on his businesses.
But Colvin, who was elected mayor in 2017, said on Friday that he felt compelled to “bring a little bit more stability to the process.” The council will have at least three new members when all is said and done this fall, as current Council Members Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, Mario Benavente and Kathy Keefe Jensen are all also seeking the seat of Fayetteville mayor. Colvin also pointed to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Fayetteville Police Department, both of which are undergoing transitions in leadership.
“It was just a time of a lot of instability, and people were concerned with that. I was concerned with that,” Colvin said. More in our lead story.
Welcome to CityView Today. In today’s newsletter: Retired Fayetteville Police Chief Kem Braden is considering whether to seek the appointment for Cumberland County Sheriff, which the county Board of Commissioners will decide on Aug. 11. “I’m still weighing my options,” Braden told CityView on Friday. If he applies for the sheriff position, Braden will be one of at least two applicants. Plus, filings closed on Friday for the 2025 municipal elections in Cumberland County. We’ve compiled a list of all the candidates, from city council members in Fayetteville to representatives in the towns of Stedman and Linden.
Thanks for reading,
Maydha Devarajan
Editor-in-Chief
In unexpected twist, Mayor Mitch Colvin reverses decision, files for reelection
Contradicting previous statements that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor of Fayetteville, Mayor Mitch Colvin filed for reelection Friday morning.
More from CityView
Retired Fayetteville Police Chief Kem Braden pondering becoming Cumberland sheriff
Braden would be one of at least two candidates for the job. The other is Sheriff’s Office Maj. Jonathan T. Morgan.
Candidates for 2025 elections in Fayetteville, other municipalities in Cumberland County
In surprise moves, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin files for reelection, Council Member Courtney Banks-McLaughlin cancels reelection effort and files for mayor, and former Council Member Tisha Waddell files for mayor.
Events
TECH TIME AT NORTH REGIONAL LIBRARY
- Where: North Regional Branch Library, 855 McArthur Road, Fayetteville
- When: 2-3:30 p.m. today
- What: Whether you need help setting up an email account, learning how to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or anything in between, we’re here to help you with your computer, tablet or smartphone questions. No appointment necessary.
ALL ABOUT BLUEBIRDS
- Where: Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 N. Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines
- When: 7:30-8:45 p.m. today
- What: The Sandhills Natural History Society will meet on Monday, July 21 to hear “All About Bluebirds,” a presentation by David Kilpatrick.
TAXIDERMY AND BONE STRUCTURE
- Where: Carvers Creek State Park, 995 McCloskey Road, Fayetteville
- When: 10-11 a.m. today
- What: Learn about the tanning process and different methods used to preserve animal skins and bones! We’ll also discuss skull variations and the purpose they serve across different species, including humans!
Obituaries
Barbara Jean Pittman Williams
Barbara Jean Pittman Williams, 75, of Myrtle Beach, passed away on Thursday, May 22.
Rick Harrison Greenhill
Rick Harrison Greenhill, 69, passed away on Thursday, July 10.
James Robert Terry
James Robert Terry, 89, of Fayetteville, passed away Monday, July 14.
Until tomorrow!
⚾️ Methodist University announced the retirement of Tom Austin, the Monarchs’ baseball head coach, in a press release Wednesday. He coached at Methodist University for 46 seasons with over 1,300 wins.
~ Valeria Cloës
