Early voting begins in
Columbus

By JEFFERSON WEAVER

Although almost two weeks are left before Election Day, voting has started.

An average of 100 people are casting ballots daily in the early voting at the Columbus County Board of Elections office.

As of this morning (Thursday), 691 voters had cast an early ballot at either the main elections office or one of the remote sites. Of 182 absentee ballots mailed out, 104 have been returned.

Early voting sites in Bolton, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Ransom and South Williams opened their doors Tuesday. The off-site polls will close Friday, and reopen Nov. 1-3. Those polls are open from 4-8 p.m.

Registered voters can also cast a ballot during regular business hours at the Columbus County Board of Elections office. Ballots may be cast at the main office through 1 p.m. Nov. 4.

While mid-term elections generally draw far less interest than years with gubernatorial or presidential races, action taken by the county commissioners over recent months has been credited with sparking an increase in voter registration and interest.

Three seats on the board of commissioners are up for grabs this year, although two commissioners did not seek re-election.

District I Commissioner Amon McKenzie is the only incumbent to the board seeking reelection. He is challenged by Randall Eugene Adams of Mt. Calvary Rd., Clarkton.

The District VI seat currently held by Kip Godwin has two contenders, William Howell Strickland and Ricky Bullard. Strickland lives in Fair Bluff, and Bullard lives in Cerro Gordo. Godwin, who serves as board chair, opted against running again.

Vice Chair David Dutton was defeated in the May primary election. The race for his seat in District VII has two candidates, Ronald Gene Gore of Nakina and Sammy Hinson of Chadbourn.

School boards

Other local races include school board seats for the county and city of Whiteville, and coroner.

In the county board of education race, incumbent Bill Johnson of Chadbourn faces Linda McCollum Pollard, also of Chadbourn, for the District Two seat.

For District Three, incumbent Esther A. Scott will face Monte Herring of Cerro Gordo and Mike Waddell, also of Cerro Gordo, in that race. Herring and Waddell mounted successful petition drives to be placed on the fall ballot.

The District Four school board post is being sought by incumbent Dale Ward and challenger Kevin Hood.

In the city school board races, James DiMuzio Jr. and Dean Nealey are seeking the seat currently held by LaDeen Powell. David Flowers is not opposed in his District Two race.

Law and Order

Most races involving the courts are famous for drawing little attention, and this year is no exception.

The state Board of Elections recently mailed out a non-partisan judicial voter’s guide to every registered voter in the state.

The pamphlet briefly and objectively describes the positions and platforms of the judicial hopefuls. It is paid for through a tax check-off program designed to free judges from the need to raise funds – and owe political favors to contributors – to run for office.

While Sheriff Chris Batten has no opposition in the general election, a long-time political powerhouse and local prosecutor faces a contender for the second time this year.

Rex Gore, District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District of Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick counties, had a tough challenge from A.J. Prease in the Democratic primary. Now Gore is deep in a tough race with Republican Jon David.

David, a prosecutor with the New Hanover County district attorney’s office, lives in Leland.

Gore is serving his fourth term as DA. His is not the only prominent partisan race that voters will decide Nov. 8.

Legislative challenges

At the state level, legislative District 20 Rep. Dewey Hill is involved in a sharp contest with Republican challenger Raymond Gilbert of Ash. Gilbert serves on the Brunswick County School Board. Hill represents Columbus and Brunswick counties.

State Sen. R.C. Soles and Republican William Fairley of Southport are also involved in a spirited campaign for the seat Soles has held since 1977. District 8 includes Columbus, Brunswick, and part of Pender.

In some of the least contentious positions on the ballot, incumbent Linwood Cartrette is unopposed for coroner, and Alex Jordan and Lloyd Ransom are running for the two seats as Soil and Water Conservation District Board.