One incumbent files in Pamlico's opening day

BAYBORO - First-day filing was slow on Monday for 47 of the 50 elected municipal offices  in Pamlico County.

Incumbent Arapahoe Commissioner Annie Flowers was the first and only candidate to file.

The Nov. 3 general election will decided mayor and board seats in nine towns. Candidates have until July 17 to pay the $5 registration fee at the elections office at the Pamlico County Courthouse.

The job of mayor and board members are available in Alliance, Arapahoe, Bayboro, Grantsboro, Mesic, Minnesott Beach, Oriental, Stonewall and Vandemere.

Candidates must be a registered resident in the town where they seek office. The filing fee is $5.

There are 47 seats - nine mayoral and 38 town board - open for this year's election.

Of the nine municipalities, only Bayboro has staggered terms, with three of its commissioners not running this year.

A number of office holders changed since the 2007 elections, two due to deaths. New mayors elected in Vandemere and Minnesott Beach died after the elections.

Henry Armon Jr. served four months as mayor of Vandemere. He was replaced by Commissioner Judy Thaanum. Former commissioners Thomas Funn was appointed to her seat.

John Forster, a write-in mayoral victor in Minnesott Beach, died before he was sworn in.

Josh Potter was chosen by the board as his replacement.

In Arapahoe, board member Kenny Heath won election to the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners in 2008. His vacated seat was taken by Charles Brinson Jr.

There are 9,452 registered voters in Pamlico County, which has a population of about 13,000. In the 2007 municipal elections, 1,024 voters cast ballots.

Just three towns - Alliance, Bayboro and Oriental - participate in absentee voting. The elections office will mail absentee ballots on Oct. 5.  One Stop voting for the three towns begins Oct. 15 and continues through Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 9.

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Pamlico County incumbents

Town officials whose seats are open for election this year.

Vandemere

Mayor: Judy Thaanum.

Commissioners: Marena Potter Hayes, David Howlett, Margaret Newton Rose, Carroll E. Voliva, Thomas Funn.

Grantsboro

Mayor: Clifton E. Stowe.

Commissioners: Alfred Cahoon, Sarah Alice Harris, Robert A. Paul, George Peacock, David Pickell.

Stonewall

Mayor: Charles Alexander.

Commissioners: Maurice Benton, Lester Carey, Barbara H. Fisher.

Oriental

Mayor: Bill Sage.

Commissioners: Candy Bohmert, David Cox, Nancy Inger, Kathy Kellam, Sherrill Styron.

Minnesott Beach

Mayor: Josh Potter.

Commissioners: Charles Salter, Dave Stewart, Eber Warren, Larry "Pete" Whorton.

Mesic

Mayor: Booker T. Jones.

Commissioners: James Cooper, Bryan Credle, Joyce Credle, Lois Credle, Dennis Jones.

Bayboro

Mayor: Paige Ackiss.

Commissioners: Roosevelt Stokes, Keith Cowell.

Alliance

Mayor: Edward Riggs Jr.

Commissioners: Harry Brooks, Mike Cuthrell, Mary B. Lewis, Frank Willis Sr.

Arapahoe

Mayor: Terry Harper Cannan.

Commissioners: Annie Flowers, Charles Brinson Jr., Betty Hill, Tommy Murray, Carolyn Paradis.

Source: Pamlico County Elections office, towns of Vandemere and Arapahoe.