ELIZABETHOWN — Early voting for the municipal election is set to begin on Thursday, Oct. 22, and will end at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Bladen County Board of Elections Assistant Deputy Director Valeria Peacock said the hours for One Stop voting will be Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 . One Stop ballots can be cast at the Bladen County Public Library, located at 111 N. Cypress St. in Elizabethtown.
Peacock said three towns — Dublin, Tar Heel and East Arcadia — have opted out of early voting for the municipal election. This includes both One Stop and mail absentee. Peacock said voters in those towns can cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Dublin, Tar Heel and East Arcadia join several towns throughout the state which have opted to not offer early voting in the municipal election, according to WRAL. For many towns, the elimination of early voting for municipal elections is about cost savings, according to reports.
The municipal election will have several contested races, but Tar Heel will see two town commissioners’ seat filled by write-in vote. Also in Tar Heel, incumbent Mayor Roy Dew is seeking re-election to his seat and incumbent town commissioner Angeline Hall filed seeking re-election to her seat.
— In Bladenboro, there are three town commissioners’ seats available along with one unexpired term. Incumbent Town Commissioners Patsi Callihan, Everett Butler and Sarah Jane Benson have all filed seeking re-election. They are joined by newcomer Larry Hayes, who has filed seeking election to one of the four-year terms, and newcomers Cris Harrelson and Don White have filed seeking election to the unexpired Bladenboro town commissioner seat.
— In Clarkton, the mayor’s seat and one town commissioner seat is available. Incumbent Town Commissioner Lawrence McDouglad filed for re-election to his seat and will face a challenge from newcomer Jimmy Hudson Jr. Incumbent Mayor Arthur Whedbee has filed seeking re-election to the mayor’s seat.
— In Dublin, the mayor’s seat and two town commissioners seats are available. Incumbent Mayor Horace Wyatt has filed seeking re-election and is joined by incumbent town commissioners David Kirby and T. David Hursey. They will be joined by newcomer Robert Johnson Britt.
— In East Arcadia, there are three town commissioners’ seats available and one unexpired town commissioner seat. Incumbent Town Commissioner Pamela Graham filed seeking re-election to the unexpired town commissioner’s seat and incumbents Horace Munn, Carlee Carter and Rhonda Hall have al filed seeking re-election. Incumbent Mayor Perry Blanks also filed for re-election. They are all running unopposed.
— In Elizabethtown, the mayor’s seat and three town council seats are available. Incumbent Mayor Sylvia Campbell has filed seeking re-election and is joined by incumbent councilmen Ricky Leinwand, Dicky Glenn and Darrell Page. They will be joined by newcomer Howell Clark, who will be seeking election to one of the three available seats.
— In White Lake, the mayor’s seat and three town commissioners’ seats are available. Incumbent Mayor Goldston Womble has filed seeking re-election to his seat and is joined by incumbent town commissioners Tom Riel, Don Smith and Tracey Scott Trivette. They are joined by newcomer Tim Clifton, who is seeking election to one of the three town commissioner’s seats.
Erin Smith can be reached at 910-862-4163.