By Joyce Lavene
Filing has closed for municipal elections which will take place in November 2. Filing for the offices for local seats on town councils and mayors ran from July 1 through July 15.
There were several surprises locally when some current seat holders decided not to run for reelection. In all, it should make for an interesting race for all municipalities.
Oakboro:
Terry Whitley, a 10-year veteran of the board of commissioners, won’t be running again this year. Neither will present mayor Joyce Little who has been mayor previously as well as for the last two years. Roy Helms, a long time member of the board also didn’t file for this election. Only one person filed for the mayor’s seat in Oakboro, Danny Long. There is no one running against him in November.
Commissioner filings include Chris Huneycutt, Rodney Eury and Wesley Barbee for Helms’ and Whitley’s seats.
Stanfield:
Only members of the Stanfield Board of Commissioners already in office filed to run again. Jerry Williams, Larry Sides and Jason Smith will have no competition for their places in November.
Locust:
The City of Locust has five seats up for reelection this year. Mayor Scott Efird has filed to run again and no one is running against him. There are four seats open on the city council. Joel Huneycutt has chosen not to run again this year. His possible replacements look to be an interesting group of faces that people have seen doing other jobs.
Harry Fletcher, previously on the council who stepped down from managing the ABC store in Locust, will run for one of those seats. Mike Hinson, J.C. Burris and Larry Baucom, presently on the council, will run again. Ex-Locust Police Chief Mike Haigler has also thrown his hat into the ring for this election. Harold Greene, former mayor of Locust, is running for a seat on the council. David Montague, currently on the Locust ABC Board, will also run for one of those seats.
Red Cross:
Filing for a single seat on the Red Cross Town Council has been extended to Wednesday, July 20. No one has filed for the seat of council member Larry Wayne Smith. Kelly Brattain, whose term is also expiring, is running for his seat unopposed. Mayor Ray Quick has also filed. He will run unopposed.
Midland:
There are two seats available on the Midland Town Council. Council member Don Fleener has decided not to run again for office this year. Mike Tallent is running for his seat on the council. Arlin and Doug Tucker will run for those seats as well. Their father, A.J. Tucker, was a former mayor of Midland and instrumental in helping the town become incorporated. First timer Rebecca Hamilton will also run for one of those seats.
