Whitehead re-elected to third term

Incumbent Register of Deeds Kandace Whitehead, left, reports her lead in the Tuesday race as friends Pete Williamson and Betty Brown help review precinct totals.

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
and JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writers

Incumbent Register of Deeds Kandace Whitehead defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Primary with more than 56 percent of the vote, winning her third four-year term.

Jim Mauldin, of Whiteville, a certified public accountant, had 2,985 votes and former Register of Deeds employee Janie Caswell had 2,729.

Whitehead had more than double the combined votes of her challengers with 7,346 cast for her.

“I’m very excited,” Whitehead said Tuesday night at the Columbus County Board of Elections.

“I had wonderful supporters who actually got out and worked hard for me,” she said. She referred to it as being “on cloud nine” and grew teary-eyed as she discussed how she began working at the Register of Deeds office at 21 years of age.

“The office means a great deal to me and always will,’ she said. “I cannot thank Columbus County enough for letting me stay where I am.

“I thank God for giving me the strength to do what I’ve had to do. I’ve got wonderful friends and family that have been supporting me the whole time and these are nothing but tears of joy,” Whitehead said.

Whitehead said she was going to continue to run the office as she always has. “My goal is to preserve the older deeds and continue to scan and archive vital records,” she said.

Janie Caswell said she was disappointed not to win, but said she had no regrets about her campaign.

“I tried to run a professional, ethical campaign,” she said. “I gave it 100 percent, and I had a lot of good support from my family, friends and co-workers.”

The Chadbourn resident, who previously worked for the register’s office, said her primary concern is still the citizens who use the office on a daily basis.

“I just wanted to see the person in that office who can do the most for Columbus County,” she said.
Jim Mauldin was philosophical about the race.

“I’m disappointed, but that’s life,” he said. “We worked hard, and ran a good race. In the end, I’m happy with my campaign – but I’d be happier if I’d won.”

Mauldin spent much of Wednesday picking up campaign signs, although he said he was “still tired” from election night.
“We didn’t even go to the Board of Elections,” he said. “I just listened to the results on the radio. It was a long, long night.”

Volunteers with Mauldin’s campaign were also disappointed, he said, but Mauldin said he was proud of them.

“They worked hard, and did a good job,” he said. “I really appreciate the effort thy showed. We just didn’t have enough.”

“A lot of people showed their support for my campaign,” Mauldin said, “and I want to thank them all for their help. I’m glad for all the winners, too. Everybody worked hard during the primary, and I think the voter turnout shows it. Such a large turnout shows people were taking it seriously.”

Mauldin didn’t say if he’d consider another run.

“Right now I’m just tired, and a little disappointed,” he said.

Whitehead said Wednesday morning she was surprised to arrive at her parents’ home near Cerro Gordo and find them in bed after she left the Board of Elections office.

“I argued with my daddy on the phone, and he said they knew I’d won, so they went to bed,” she said.

Whitehead said she and her parents celebrated the victory until 2 a.m. with brownies and milk. She then began picking up campaign signs around Whiteville.

“I hate seeing the signs still out on the street after an election,” she said. “I wanted to make sure there were no Kandance Whitehead signs left out there. I still have a few to get, but I will get them cleaned up.”

Whitehead said she was gratified at the response by Columbus County voters.

“I just want to keep doing my best to help the people of this county,” she said.