Unofficial results for 2025 Municipal Election in Southeastern North Carolina

Published

4 months ago

November 5, 2025

Unofficial results for 2025 Municipal Election in Southeastern North Carolina

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. (WECT) – Here is a breakdown of the unofficial winners of races across Southeastern North Carolina in the 2025 North Carolina Municipal Election:

NEW HANOVER COUNTY

Wilmington – Mayor

27 of 27 precincts reporting

Jonathan Barfield: 5,067 votes
Billy Craig: 7,411 votes
Bill Saffo: 12,093 votes

Wilmington – City Council

27 of 27 precincts reporting

Clifford Barnett: 6,647 votes
Chakema Clinton-Quintana: 11,464 votes
Richard Collier: 9,350 votes
Sean Guerrero: 777 votes
JC Lyle: 11,875 votes
Kelly Roberts: 6,506 votes
Cassidy Santaguida: 11,568 votes
Luke Waddell: 10,571 votes

Carolina Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Lynn Barbee: 1,092 votes
Youssef Hassan: 301 votes

Carolina Beach – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Vince Losito: 1,041 votes
Wayne Rouse: 1,122 votes

Kure Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Kure Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Byron Ashbridge: 385 votes
Mark Dirks: 358 votes
Tracy Mitchell: 118 votes

Wrightsville Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Wrightsville Beach – Board of Aldermen

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Margaret Baggett: 490 votes
Hank Miller: 453 votes
Todd Schoen: 469 votes
Lee Williams: 58 votes
David Wortman: 356 votes

BRUNSWICK COUNTY

Bald Head Island – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Peter Quinn: 159 votes
Scott Thomas: 120 votes

Bald Head Island – Village Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Debra Drumheller: 82 votes
Slaughter Fitz-Hugh: 174 votes
Andrew Hano: 81 votes
Jesse Hermann: 193 votes

Belville – Mayor

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Nia Moore: 87 votes
Chuck Bost: 179 votes

Belville – Town Commissioner

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Hunter Smith: 208 votes
Ryan Merrill: 214 votes

Boiling Spring Lakes – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Michael Ellis: 472 votes
Jeff Winecoff: 583 votes

Boiling Spring Lakes – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Todd Ausborn: 519 votes
David Mammay: 401 votes
Kim Sherwood: 547 votes
Ernie Siriani: 512 votes

Bolivia – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bolivia – Board of Aldermen

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Jonathan Hayes: 13 votes
Hannah Hrvol: 11 votes
Dewey Smith: 14 votes
Melissa Kay Walters: 12 votes

Calabash – Town Commissioner

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Shaun Bellamy: 95 votes
Frank Strungis: 90 votes
Bill Wilham: 95 votes

Carolina Shores – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Carolina Shores – Town Commissioner

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Jeff Alt: 273 votes
Jack Brinson: 229 votes
Andrew Davis: 198 votes
Walter Goodenough: 75 votes
Debbie Watts: 507 votes

Caswell Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Kathleen Berry: 117 votes
Martha Dollinger: 89 votes
Thomas Jarvis: 86 votes
Connie Silverstein: 67 votes

Holden Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Mike Felmly: 172 votes
Alan Holden: 394 votes

Holden Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Chad Hock: 235 votes
Sylvia Pate: 337 votes
Keith Smith: 306 votes
Maria Surprise: 234 votes

Leland – Town Council

7 of 7 precincts reporting

Leland Hyer: 2,588 votes
Bill McHugh: 2,401 votes
Frank Pendleton: 3,142 votes
Edgar Robbins: 371 votes
Susan Waleed: 1,763 votes

Navassa – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Jerry Merrick: 123 votes
Ernest Mooring: 96 votes
Rose Terry: 162 votes

Navassa – Town Commissioner, District 1

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Tony Burgess: 72 votes
Ida Dixon: 111 votes
Marcell Hatten: 99 votes
Craig Suggs: 145 votes
Wanda Jones Willis: 217 votes

Northwest – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sheila Grady: 186 votes
James Knox: 35 votes

Oak Island – Mayor

6 of 6 precincts reporting

Christopher Brown: 1,551 votes
Douglas DeArros: 77 votes
Liz White: 1,493 votes

Oak Island – Town Council

6 of 6 precincts reporting

Tommy Brown: 1,296 votes
Chasey Bynum: 1,391 votes
Chip Frazier: 765 votes
Kerri McCullough: 1,024 votes
Reece Simmons: 332 votes
Scott Stephenson: 1,175 votes

Ocean Isle Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Ocean Isle Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Polly Bristow: 168 votes
Mark Robertson: 230 votes
Wayne Rowell: 209 votes

Sandy Creek – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandy Creek – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Johanna Didrill: 26 votes
Austin Lentz: 19 votes

Sandy Creek – Town Council, Unexpired Term

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Rebecca Wilkins: 23 votes

Shallotte – Mayor

5 of 5 precincts reporting

Art Dornfeld: 331 votes
Walter Eccard: 249 votes

Shallotte – Board of Aldermen

5 of 5 precincts reporting

James Bellamy: 399 votes
Eugene Vasile: 382 votes

Southport – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Rich Alt: 848 votes
Joe Pat Hatem: 1,208 votes

Southport – Board of Aldermen, Ward 1

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Robert Carroll: 920 votes
Mike Crosbie: 908 votes
David Miller: 763 votes
Karen Mosteller: 987 votes

Southport – Board of Aldermen, Ward 2

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Nelson Adams: 365 votes
Katie Boyd: 0 votes
Bonnie Bray: 793 votes
Paul Gross: 860 votes

St. James – Town Council

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Dennis Barclay: 895 votes
Jim Board: 1,069 votes
Peter Cudlip: 286 votes
Ray Irvin: 576 votes
Jeffrey Lewis: 625 votes
Bill Miller: 895 votes

Sunset Beach – Mayor

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Shannon Phillips: 1,321 votes
Nicholas Peters: 547 votes

Sunset Beach – Town Council

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Sean Arnold: 1,127 votes
William Brougham: 896 votes
Katie Bordeaux: 1,482 votes
Gerard Byrnes: 667 votes
Richard Dysinger: 684 votes

Sunset Beach – Town Council, Unexpired Term

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Michael Hargreaves: 600 votes
Christie Batchelor: 1,264 votes

Varnumtown – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Varnumtown – Board of Aldermen

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Lori Galloway: 37 votes
Jeremy Ridenhour: 26 votes

PENDER COUNTY

Atkinson – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Atkinson – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Hector Ramos: 25 votes
Penny Stith: 21 votes

Burgaw – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Burgaw – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

James Malloy: 126 votes
Myura McDuffie: 116 votes

St. Helena – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Robert Barnhill: 28 votes

St. Helena – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Neil Benton: 31 votes
Judy Katalinic: 25 votes

Surf City – Town Council

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Hugh Canady: 680 votes
Andy Pleil: 1,000 votes
Jillian Rodrigues de Miranda: 466 votes
Jeremy Shugarts: 184 votes

Topsail Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Topsail Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Alex Arab: 137 votes
John Best: 178 votes
Nancy Thomason: 179 votes
Tim Zizack: 110 votes

Watha – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Joseph Craig: 8 votes
Samuel Miller: 11 votes
Rachel Stadsvold: 10 votes
Ken Fountain: 15 votes

BLADEN COUNTY

Bladenboro – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Bladenboro – Town Commissioner

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Jeff Atkinson: 94 votes
Cris Harrelson: 87 votes
Gregory Sykes: 86 votes
Joey Todd: 60 votes

Clarkton – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Stephen Hester: 32 votes
Troy Mitchell: 41 votes
Write In: 53

Dublin – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Dublin – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Richard Sibbett: 15 votes

East Arcadia – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Lillian Graham: 40 votes
Pamela Graham: 42 votes

Elizabethtown – Town Council

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Brenda Clark: 212 votes
Paula Greene: 458 votes
Penny Johnson: 41 votes
Bobby Kinlaw: 320 votes
Herman Lewis: 303 votes
Rufus Lloyd: 328 votes

Elizabethtown – Town Council (Unexpired Term)

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Bruce Dickerson: 438 votes
Robert Hester: 149 votes

Tar Heel – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Tar Heel – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Steve Dowless: 14 votes
Derek Druzak: 15 votes

White Lake – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

James Barefoot: 163 votes
Tim Blount: 159 votes
Paul Evans: 147 votes
Richard Shaw: 172 votes

COLUMBUS COUNTY

Boardman – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Eric Williamson: 20 votes

Boardman – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Donald Britt: 20 votes
Tevis Britt: 19 votes
Crystal Rogers: 20 votes
James Smith: 20 votes
Minnie Turbeville: 20 votes

Bolton – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bolton – Town Alderman

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Daniel Brown: 67 votes
Barbara Jo Graham: 54 votes
Gary Graham: 40 votes
Kelvin Thurman: 12 votes

Brunswick – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Tammy Blackmon: 42 votes
Curtis Hill: 53 votes
Ricky Mason: 34 votes
Alonzo McArthur: 31 votes

Cerro Gordo – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Cerro Gordo – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Tracey Blackwell: 24 votes
Jeffrey Greene: 24 votes
Lisa McKee: 18 votes
Debra Prince: 7 votes

Chadbourn – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Shannon Britt: 117 votes
Avala Nealy: 143 votes
Rashad Roberts: 188 votes
Andrew Worley: 85 votes

Fair Bluff – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Fair Bluff – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bradley Cutrell: 116 votes
Clarice Faison: 137 votes
Grayson Jarvis: 118 votes
John Phillips: 63 votes

Lake Waccamaw – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Greg Jacobs: 319 votes
Chad Smith: 30 votes
Matthew Wilson: 262 votes

Lake Waccamaw – Town Commissioner, East Ward

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Jerry Hinnant: 311 votes
Scott Hyatt: 296 votes

Lake Waccamaw – Town Commissioner, West Ward

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Curtis Andrews: 285 votes
Frank Carroll: 78 votes
Charlyne Jacobs: 242 votes

Sandyfield – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Perry Dixon: 56 votes
Leonard Hall: 58 votes

Tabor City – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bryan Culbertson: 45 votes
Chris Fowler: 235 votes
Lamont Grate: 235 votes
Mitchell Strickland: 112 votes

Whiteville – Mayor

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Brandon Acker: 32 votes
Terry Mann: 367 votes
Brittany Payne: 47 votes
Mike Schachnuk: 96 votes

Whiteville – City Council, District 1

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Helen Holden: 173 votes
Vickie Pait: 230 votes
Linda Smith: 235 votes

REFERENDUMS

Holden Beach Pier Bond ($7.3 million for new pier)

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Yes: 211 votes
No: 351 votes

Sandyfield Malt Beverage Election

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Yes: 47 votes
No: 31 votes

Sandyfield Unfortified Wine Election

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Yes: 45 votes
No: 33 votes

Sandyfield Mixed Beverage Election

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Yes: 47 votes
No: 30 votes

Click here to watch WECT’s live election coverage.

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These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

Published

4 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

A new list from WorldAtlas named the publication’s top 10 favorite North Carolina towns of 2026, including several locations located in Western North Carolina.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western North Carolina from WorldAtlas, including “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, a favorite downtown area, and more. In the new list, published March 9, WorldAtlas writers chose their all-time favorite North Carolina towns ― almost half of which were located in the western region of the state.

Here’s what WorldAtlas had to say about mountain North Carolina towns, plus the full list and more.

What to do in Banner Elk, N.C.

WorldAtlas noted the range of activities offered in Banner Elk throughout the year. The town sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski resorts. Writers highlighted the following locations and activities in Banner Elk:

Wildcat Lake, which has a lifeguarded white-sand beach and is used for swimming, non-motorized boating and fishing for largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill
Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, a museum located at Grandfather Mountain
The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in the United States, which visitors can cross on foot

What to do in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Also included on the WorldAtlas list, Blowing Rock takes its name from a rock formation where the wind appears to blow upward. The list highlighted the following locations and activities in Blowing Rock:

The town’s namesake, “Blowing Rock,” is a rock formation known for views of Johns River Gorge and the surrounding forest
Fishing, spelunking and rock climbing opportunities in the area
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, also known locally as “Cone Park,” which has hiking trails and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Memorial Park on Main Street, where town events and concerts often take place

What to do in Brevard, N.C.

Brevard, also known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” is home to more than 200 waterfalls located across Transylvania County. WorldAtlas highlighted the following locations and activities in Brevard:

Museums, trails, rock climbing and the surrounding area’s many waterfalls
Guided Jeep and hiking tours to view waterfalls throughout Transylvania County
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, a museum displaying artifacts from U.S. military conflicts
Transylvania Heritage Museum, a museum focused on local history and genealogy

What to do in Hot Springs, N.C.

Hot Springs’ name comes from the natural springs that attract visitors from across the state and region. The springs are commonly visited by hikers seeking relief after traveling along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the town. WorldAtlas highlighted the following activities and events:

Kayaking on the French Broad River
Trailfest, a celebration of hiking typically held in April
French Broad River Festival, a celebration of the French Broad River held each year on the first weekend of May
White-water rafting and ziplining opportunities in the area
Fishing, skiing, sport shooting, golf, disc golf, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the area
A range of accommodations including campgrounds, privately owned cabins, apartments, suites and cottages, with options from basic to luxury experiences

WorldAtlas’s best towns in North Carolina

The full list of WorldAtlas’s favorite North Carolina towns of 2026 included:

Banner Elk
Beaufort
Blowing Rock
Brevard
Davidson
Edenton
Hot Springs
Seagrove
Manteo
Wrightsville Beach

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

Published

16 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

An North Carolina State University professor is back home Monday night after he was trapped in the Middle East as war with Iran broke out.

Rich Spontak was stuck in Qatar while traveling from Bangkok to Spain and was forced to stay in the country for about a week. Several travelers were trapped for days in the Middle East after Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several defense leaders were
killed in joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Spontak, like many travelers, found himself stranded in the Middle East after the initial attacks, which quickly entangled more surrounding countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where seven U.S. service members were killed in retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Spontak said there were times he thought he wouldn’t make it out.

“I would just keep looking out and looking for the missiles,” Spontak said. “Some people that I met along the way were hit by shrapnel from the missles. It was dire.”

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Azerbaijan also shut the southern sector of its airspace on Thursday after accusing Iran of a drone attack that injured four civilians and damaged an airport building.

Lilia Austin, a Chapel Hill woman who was part of a group of 100 women who went to Israel for a trip the day before Khamenei was killed, also returned home on Sunday after she left Israel through Egypt.

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North Carolina

Gov. Stein proposes $1.4B ‘critical needs’ budget for North Carolina

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Gov. Stein proposes .4B ‘critical needs’ budget for North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — With North Carolina still without a new state budget, Gov. Josh Stein is urging state lawmakers to approve a $1.4 billion “Critical Needs Budget.” Stein says this budget will address the state’s most urgent priorities while the General Assembly works on a full spending plan.

“North Carolina has gone nearly two and a half years without passing a new state budget – the only state in the country to finish 2025 without one[…]This budget invests in critical public safety, education and health care services for the people of North Carolina that cannot wait,” Gov. Stein said in a press release Monday.

A major part of Stein’s proposal is $319 million to fully fund Medicaid, which provides health coverage to over three million North Carolinians. This program also supports rural hospitals, nursing homes and statewide health care providers, per the release.

JUDGE ORDERS FEMA TO REINSTATE $200M STORM RELIEF PROGRAM, ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS

The “Critical Needs Budget” would target public safety staffing and pay. According to the governor’s office, North Carolina currently ranks 49th in starting salaries for state troopers and correctional officers, and low pay has contributed to staffing shortages and vacancy rates. This budget would bring pay raises to correctional officers, law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers and more.

Stein’s proposed budget calls for raising starting and average teacher pay, as well as increasing pay for senior teachers and other education staff. The governor’s office said the state remains in the bottom 10 nationally in average teacher pay.

The budget proposal also includes pay increases for state employees and a cost-of-living adjustment for retired state employees, citing rising inflation costs and increasing health care premiums. Stein’s plan also includes targeted funding to maintain essential services, such as support for child care access and affordability.

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