Sanders intends to file for re-election

As the candidate filing period for the November election opened Monday, Havelock Mayor Jimmy Sanders said he intends to seek another term.

The mayor's spot and two city commissioner spots, currently held by Will Lewis and Jim Stuart, are up for election this year.

The filing period is open until noon on July 17 at the Craven County Board of Elections in the County Administration Building in New Bern.

Lewis said Monday that he would be seeking re-election, while Stuart said he had not decided whether to seek another term.

"I have not discussed that with my family yet because we're all in it together," Stuart said. "I'm not undecided, but I need to bounce it off my family. I'll make a decision before the week is out."

In 2005, Sanders won the mayoral seat with 600 votes, or 64 percent of the vote, over challenger Matthew Jones.

Also in 2005, Will Lewis was elected for the first time to the board at age 28 by earning the most votes with 541, or 29 percent. Stuart received 272 votes, or 15 percent, in 2005 to capture a seat on the board for the first time.

The city election is set for Nov. 3, with the deadline to register to vote set for Oct. 9.

Absentee ballots can be requested as late as Oct. 5 and must be received at the Board of Elections office by 5 p.m. Oct. 27.

Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 15 and end Oct. 31 at the Board of Elections office in New Bern.

The Nov. 3 election will also include the towns of Bridgeton, Dover, River Bend, Trent Woods and the First Craven Sanitation District.