ROCKINGHAM — Three sitting office holders from two municipalities filed to keep their respective seats Monday at the Richmond County Board of Elections.
Mayor Tonia Collins and Councilman Stephen Cranford, both from the county’s northernmost town of Norman, both filed, as did Councilman John Sears Jr. of Ellerbe.
Collins was elected mayor in 2019 — defeating challenger Adrian Robson — after Kenneth Broadway decided not to run.
Prior to her mayoral campaign, Collins had served two consecutive terms on the council and had served previously.
Collins said she wants to bring more to the town of around 100, citing the recent announcement of a Dollar General which is currently under construction.
Click here to read about the initial announcement.
A DG spokesperson told the RO that the retail store is expected to open in the fall.
“I want everyone to recognize Norman as a town and not some hole in the wall,” Collins said. “I want to see Norman grow and become a better place.”
Cranford could not be reached on Monday as the telephone number listed by the RCBOE website appears to no longer be in service.
Nancy Paxton and Renate Mann have yet to file for reelection. Both were elected in 2019 by each securing 15 write-in votes, more than the 14 that went to Cindi Murray who was on the ballot.
Sears became the final incumbent for Ellerbe to file for reelection, as Mayor Brenda Capel and Councilman Jeremy McKenzie have already tossed their proverbial hats into the ring.
Initially appointed to fill out the remainder of a vacated term, Sears was elected in 2021.
Capel was first elected in 2021 and McKenzie has been on the council since 2015.
Other candidates to file for the upcoming municipal elections are:
HAMLET
Mayor – Bill Bayless (incumbent); Amy Guinn
City Council – Abbie Covington, Oscar Sellers, Maurice Stuart (incumbents); Ray Mills
ROCKINGHAM
Mayor – John Hutchinson (incumbent)
City Council – Gene Willard, Bennett Deane (incumbents); Holly Littlefield Howe
DOBBINS HEIGHTS
Mayor – Antonio Blue (incumbent)
Town Council – Ravonna Magee (incumbent)
There has yet to be anyone from Hoffman to file for mayor or town council. Those seats are two-year, non-staggered terms.
Even if there are no names on the ballot for the Hoffman race, N.C. General Statute 128-7 holds that: “All officers shall continue in their respective offices until their successors are elected or appointed, and duly qualified.”
There are two other incumbents in Richmond County who have yet to file: Steve Morris for Rockingham City Council; and Mary Ann Gibson for Dobbins Heights Town Council.
Filing fees are $10 for races in Rockingham, Hamlet and Ellerbe; and $5 for Dobbins Heights, Hoffman and Norman.
Filing ends at noon July 21.
