ELIZABETHTOWN — The municipal election filing period officially ended at noon on Friday and many incumbents have announced their intentions to seek re-election. They also have been joined by a few new faces.

Two town commissioners’s seats in Tar Heel, however, remain vacant.

“This is not the first time this has happened,” said Bladen County Board of Elections Director Cynthia Shaw.

The Bladen County Board of Elections met at about 2 p.m. Friday and voted not to extend the filing deadline for Tar Heel, said Shaw.

The two seats will be filled by write-in votes, said Shaw. She added that, just because someone is elected by write-in votes, that does not mean that individual has to accept the seat. Shaw also said that a write-in candidate must also reside within the city limits of Tar Heel.

In other Tar Heel races, incumbent Mayor Roy Dew filed seeking re-election to his seat and incumbent Town Commissioner Angeline Hall filed seeking re-election to her town commissioner’s seat. Both are unopposed.

Other muncipal races:

— 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 town council 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.

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By Erin Smith

erinsmith@civitasmedia.com