By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

It’s an “off year” election but Columbus County voters in nine municipalities will decide in November who will represent them.

Filing at the County Board of Elections office began Friday at noon and by 5 p.m. several candidates had filed for office, Board of Elections Director Carla Strickland said.

Two newcomers are seeking seats on boards in Fair Bluff (John Wayne Phillips) and in Tabor City (Lee Baxter).

Several incumbents have filed a notice of intent, including Tabor City Mayor Royce Harper, Lake Waccamaw Mayor Ivan Wilson and Whiteville Mayor Dial Gray.

Incumbents on Whiteville City Council seeking re-election are Robert Leder and Howard Jones, the two seats up for re-election in District I, which has four seats total.

Also seeking re-election are Whiteville District 2 Councilman Jimmy Clarida and Lake Waccamaw Commissioner Earl Harris in the East Ward.

Mayors in all municipalities are up for re-election except in Brunswick and Fair Bluff, as well as 23 aldermen, council members, and town council members in nine towns and cities. Brunswick’s mayor is selected by town board members after each election.

The municipal election will be held Nov. 6, but residents of Whiteville, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Lake Waccamaw, Sandyfield, and Tabor City may vote as early as Oct. 18 at the Board of Elections during early voting.

Bolton, Brunswick and Cerro Gordo residents may vote on election day. Those towns have chosen not to participate in early voting.

Boardman has no terms expiring until 2009 for its board and mayor.

Several offices wait for a notice of intent to be filed and there is still time for prospective officials to pay the $5 fee and file by the Friday, July 20 noon deadline.

For more information, call the Board of Elections at 640-6609, log onto columbuscounty.org, or go by the elections office at 50 Legion Dr., Whiteville.