Who's running for office in Cumberland County? Your guide to the 2023 candidates

It’s officially election season in Cumberland County, and more than 40 candidates have already signed up for their chance to win in 26 races throughout the county.

Seats up for grabs range from the mayor of Fayetteville to a member of the Eastover Sanitary District’s board, and candidates must register by noon Friday. Here’s the latest on the candidates in each race as of Friday afternoon.

Mayor of Fayetteville

Fayetteville’s mayoral race will see a familiar match-up in 2023, with incumbent Mayor Mitch Colvin aiming for his fourth term and candidate Freddie de la Cruz hoping to beat him. Colvin resoundingly won in the July 2022 election, netting 62.78% of 14,824 votes cast, according to election results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

• Mitch Colvin (incumbent)

• Freddie de la Cruz

Fayetteville City Council, District 1

As of Friday afternoon, incumbent Kathy Keefe Jensen, who has served District 1 since November 2013, had no challengers.

• Kathy Keefe Jensen (incumbent)

Fayetteville City Council, District 2

The District 2 primary is poised to be one of the busiest in Fayetteville, with three candidates registered as of Friday afternoon. Incumbent Shakeyla Ingram will once again face challenger Janene Ackles in a battle for her third term on City Council, in addition to newcomer Laura Rodrigues Mussler.

• Shakeyla Ingram (incumbent)

• Laura Rodrigues Mussler

• Janene Ackles

Fayetteville City Council, District 3

Freshman Councilman Mario Benavente faced no competition as of Friday afternoon.

• Mario “Be” Benavente (incumbent)

Fayetteville City Council, District 4

Long-term incumbent D.J. Haire was the sole candidate registered for District 4 as of Friday afternoon.

• D.J. Haire (incumbent)

Fayetteville City Council, District 5

The fight for the District 5 council seat is already jam-packed with candidates, with three registered opponents challenging Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins for his seat, including Fred G. LaChance III, who ran against Dawkins last year, earning 31.14% of 2,418 votes, according to State Board of Elections data.

• Johnny Dawkins (incumbent)

• Fred G. LaChance III

• Justin Herbe

• Lynne Bissette Greene

Fayetteville City Council, District 6

Freshman Councilman Derrick Thompson faced no opposition as of Friday afternoon.

• Derrick Thompson (incumbent)

Fayetteville City Council, District 7

Freshman Councilwoman Brenda McNair had no registered opponents as of Friday afternoon.

• Brenda McNair (incumbent)

Fayetteville City Council, District 8

No candidates had registered for the seat currently held by Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin as of Friday afternoon.

Fayetteville City Council, District 9

Freshman Councilman Deno Hondros faced no opposition as of Friday afternoon.

• Deno Hondros (incumbent)

Mayor of Hope Mills

Mayor Jackie Warner will face off against former Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers once again. In November 2021, the most recent mayoral contest, Warner earned 44 more votes than Bellflowers, netting 600 to Bellflowers’ 556 of 1,162 ballots cast, according to State Board of Elections data.

• Jackie Warner (incumbent)

• Jessie Bellflowers

Hope Mills Board of Commissioners

All five of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners’ seats are up for grabs in November, and all five incumbents have registered for reelection. The incumbents will face four other challengers, including former Commissioner Pat Edwards, as of Friday afternoon.

• Bryan A. Marley (incumbent)

• Kenjuana McCray (incumbent)

• Joanne Scarola (incumbent)

• Jerry Legge (incumbent)

• Grilley Mitchell (incumbent)

• Deanna L. Rosario

• Pat Edwards

• Mark Hess

• Karen Smith Saracen

Mayor of Spring Lake

Mayor Kia Anthony faces no competitors in her bid for a second term as of Friday afternoon.

• Kia Anthony (incumbent)

Spring Lake Board of Aldermen

All five of the Spring Lake Board of Aldermen’s seats will be voted on in November. All incumbents, save for Mayor Pro Tem Robyn Chadwick, have filed for reelection as of Friday afternoon and will compete against three additional challengers, including former Alderwoman Jackie Lee Jackson and former Town Manager Daniel Gerald.

• Adrian Jones Thompson (incumbent)

• Marvin Lackman (incumbent)

• Raul Palacios (incumbent)

• Sona L. Cooper (incumbent)

• Katrina (Bell) Bratcher

• Daniel B. Gerald

• Jackie Lee Jackson

Eastover Sanitary District Board

One of the Sanitary Board's three seats is up for grabs this year, but no one has registered as of Friday afternoon.

Mayor of Eastover

Mayor Charles McLaurin faced no opponents as of Friday afternoon.

• Charles McLaurin (incumbent)

Eastover Town Council

With three Town Council seats up for grabs in November, only two candidates had registered as of Friday afternoon — one incumbent and one newcomer.

• Stan Crumpler (incumbent)

• Frederick A. Williams

Mayor of Falcon

No candidates have registered for the seat currently held by Mayor Clifton L. Turpin, Jr.

Falcon Board of Commissioners

All four Board of Commissioners seats are up for election in November, but only one candidate had filed as of Friday afternoon — Sue Brigman, who previously ran in 2019.

• Sue Brigman

Mayor of Godwin

Incumbent Willie Burnette was the only candidate registered as of Friday afternoon.

• Willie Burnette (incumbent)

Godwin Board of Commissioners

Although all four Board of Commissioners seats are up for election in November, only three candidates had filed as of Friday afternoon, including two incumbents.

• George Cooper, Jr. (incumbent)

• Scarlet M. Hall (incumbent)

• Angela Burnette Lambert

Mayor of Linden

Incumbent Frances B. Collier will be running for her third term as mayor.

• Frances B. Collier (incumbent)

Linden Board of Commissioners

Incumbent Barbara C. Denning was the only candidate as of Friday afternoon to have registered for the five seats up for grabs in November.

• Barbara C. Denning (incumbent)

Stedman Board of Commissioners

Newcomer Joseph Manuel was the only candidate registered for the three available seats as of Friday.

• Joseph Manuel

Mayor of Wade

No candidates had registered for Mayor Joseph Dixon’s role as of Friday afternoon.

Wade Board of Commissioners

Incumbent Kevin Herring was the sole candidate for the five seats up for grabs as of Friday afternoon.

• Kevin A. Herring (incumbent)

Government watchdog reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County sees more than 40 candidates for 2023 elections