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 |