Spring Lake, Stedman, Wade candidates file Friday for municipal offices

Candidates filed for office in Spring Lake, Stedman and Wade on Friday, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections Office.

In Spring Lake, Mayor Pro Tem Robyn Chadwick filed Friday for reelection to the Board of Aldermen. Others in the race include challengers Daniel B. Gerald, Jackie Lee Jackson and Katrina (Bell) Bratcher and incumbents Sona L. Cooper, Adrian Jones Thompson, Marvin Lackman and Raul Palacios. Spring Lake Mayor Kia Anthony filed for reelection on Monday.

In Stedman, incumbent Mark Lee filed for reelection to the Board of Commissioners, joining challenger Joseph Manuel on the ballot.

Wade Commissioner Jennifer Dixon Weaver filed for reelection on Friday. Incumbent Keven A. Herring is seeking reelection. Johnny Lanthorn filed Friday as a challenger in the mayor’s race.

Earlier filings

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin will be challenged again by Freddie de la Cruz. Colvin defeated de la Cruz in 2022 with 63% of the vote to the challenger’s 37%.

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 9: Incumbent Deno Hondros.

In the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners race, candidates include challengers 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:

• Falcon: Challenger Sue Brigman filed for town commissioner.
• 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.

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.