ROCKINGHAM — Two municipal elections heated up Friday as more candidates made last-minute filings for mayoral and council seats.
According to Elections Director Connie Kelly, Michael McRae entered the Rockingham mayoral race, becoming the third candidate to do so.
Mayor Pro Tem John Hutchinson filed on Thursday and current Mayor Steve Morris filed July 2.
Jeff Benson and Chris Turner joined the race for Rockingham City Council and will face off against sitting members Denise Sullivan, Gene Willard and Anne Edwards.
The top two vote-getters in the Rockingham election will have a four-year term and the third-highest will serve a two-year term. The mayoral position is also a two-year term.
Records show Brenda T. Capel also filed Friday to run against Ellerbe Mayor Fred Cloninger.
John Sears Jr. also filed to run for the remainder of the unexpired term of the Ellerbe Board of Commissioners seat to which he was appointed.
Elsie Freeman and Jean Fletcher filed Wednesday to retain their seats, and two newcomers — Thomas R. Grooms and Bennett Hawks — are also vying for a seat on that board.
Two sitting office holders, Ellerbe’s Archie Robinson and Hoffman’s John Taylor never filed.
All other council members in Hoffman — Ricardo “Ricky” Anderson, Daniel Kelly and Rory K. Jones and Cynthia Northcutt — filed within the first six days, as did Mayor Tommy Hart. Kyonna Jones filed Wednesday to run for a council seat.
All seats in Hoffman are up for reelection, as that town has two-year, non-staggered terms.
There is no competition for either of the two Hamlet City Council seats — currently held by Eddie Martin and Jesse McQueen — or the mayoral seat occupied by Bill Bayless.
The elections for Rockingham, Hamlet, Ellerbe and Hoffman will be Nov. 2.
In Dobbins Heights, which will hold its election Oct. 5, three candidates have filed for two seats on the Town Council — sitting members Councilwoman Angeline David and Mayor Pro Tem Tyré Holloway, as well as former town clerk Mary Magee.
