03/29/2024
Spread the love

Updated with article on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

The people have spoken and changes are coming. Bladenboro will be the town with the most changes in the near future after yesterday’s election revealed the town’s alcohol sales referendum passed.

Now, the Town of Bladenboro will be working on changes to ordinances along with gaining new commissioners once the election is certified.

“This is new to us and our Town Administrator, Blake, is working on it now,” Mayor Rufus Duckworth said.

The Town of Bladenboro ordinances at this time do not allow for beer and wine sales, so those ordinances will need to be changed. Bladenboro Town Administrator, Blake Proctor has a list to verify of what aspects the town needs to change in their ordinances.

“Blake has reached out to Elizabethtown Manager, Eddie Madden for guidance on the matter because he is good at the follow through on ordinances,” Mayor Duckworth said.

The changes may take until December or January to take effect according to Mayor Duckworth.

The businesses in Bladenboro wanting to start selling beer and wine will also need a license from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) board, Mayor Duckworth added.

The majority of Bladenboro voters also elected two new town commissioners. Stephanie A. Thurman and John Mac Bowen. Incumbent Sarah Jane Benson also made the cut and was re-elected to the board.

Clarkton residents elected Tim Tart as the new Clarkton Mayor and Linda Croom was elected as a Clarkton Commissioner.

Darryl Dowless is the Mayor of Dublin with David Hursey and David Kirby holding seats on the town council.

Mayor Perry Blanks and Commissioners Horace Munn, Carlee Carter, and Rhonda Blanks Hall will continue to serve East Arcadia.

Mayor Sylvia Campbell will continue to serve the Town of Elizabethtown with the incumbents Ricky Leinwand, Howell Clark, and Dicky Glenn also keeping their council seats on the town board.

Tar Heel Mayor Roy Allen will also continue his role as mayor. The three Commissioners seats are yet to be finalized. Sam Allen received 13 votes and their were 17 miscellaneous write in votes.

Last, but not least, Incumbent Mayor Goldston Womble was re-elected. There were three commissioner seats up for election. Two new commissioners were elected to the board. They are Dean Hilton and Tom Riel. Commissioner Tim Clifton was re-elected as commissioner.

“Nothing is finalized until the canvass,” Bladen County Board of Elections Director Chris Williams said. There is still a lot to be done, according to Mr. Williams.

“We will have a Supplemental Absentee meeting this Friday, November 8 at 5 pm and then on November 15th at ll:00 a.m. we will have our canvass. Then the state will need to certify all the newly elected.”

See the unofficial results below:

Final unofficial results | Updated: Nov. 5, 9:24 p.m.
BLADENBORO
MALT BEVERAGE VOTES
For 313
Against 153
UNFORTIFIED WINE VOTES
For 309
Against 152
COMMISSIONER (3 seats) VOTES
Stephanie A. Thurman 278
Sarah Jane Benson 213
John (Mac) Bowen 198
Gene Norton 157
Claudette Lewis Guy 151
Patsi Callihan 126
Joey Todd 73
CLARKTON
MAYOR VOTES
Tim Tart 73
Jon Hall 53
Arthur Whedbee 27
COMMISSIONER (1 seat) VOTES
Linda Croom 127
DUBLIN
MAYOR VOTES
Darryl Dowless 21
COMMISSIONER (2 seats) VOTES
David Hursey 27
David Kirby 18
EAST ARCADIA
MAYOR VOTES
Perry Blanks 46
COMMISSIONER (3 seats) VOTES
Horace Munn 39
Carlee Carter 37
Rhonda Blanks Hall 34
ELIZABETHTOWN
MAYOR VOTES
Sylvia Campbell 832
COUNCIL (3 seats) VOTES
Ricky Leinwand 603
Howell Clark 536
Dicky Glenn 514
Jessica McKoy Wilson 444
Mary A. McMillian 440
Debbie Heyward 397
TAR HEEL
MAYOR VOTES
Roy Dew 13
COMMISSIONER (3 seats) VOTES
Sam Allen 13
Write-In (Miscellaneous) 17
WHITE LAKE
MAYOR VOTES
H. Goldston Womble Jr. 193
Gray Marshburn 112
COMMISSIONER (3 seats) VOTES
Dean C. Hilton 245
Tom Riel 235
Tim Clifton 220
Jay Young 92

About Author