Tuman wins NTB mayors race

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH — This Topsail Island town has a new mayor.

Dan Tuman prevailed against Mayor Donald Martin to win the North Topsail Beach mayor’s race Tuesday night.

 “I’m certainly grateful for all the support I got in North Topsail Beach — I feel good,” Tuman said.

Unofficial results indicated Tuman received141 votes compared to Martin’s 98.

“I think the voters elected a new board of outstanding and dedicated citizens, and I am proud to be associated with them,” said Tuman. “I am looking forward to working with the newly constituted board … I think they’ll make a positive change in the atmosphere for the town.”

Tuman said his first order of business as mayor will be finding a town manager.

“A town doesn’t operate without a town manager … Many things have been stopped or stalled without one, so that’s my first priority,” he said.

He said he was in favor of rehiring Lara Burleson, who was recently “separated from the town.”

“But I really don’t know how receptive she will be to coming back given the shabby way she was treated here and the fact that two of the board members who voted to dismiss her will still be on the board … But I will be encouraging the new board to seriously consider approaching her to invite her back,” he said.

Martin said he plans to fully support Tuman.

“I tried the best for the town, and (Tuman) will do alright,” he said. “I give him my full support … and I told him anything I can do for the town (I will). I fully appreciate all the citizens who gave me their full support.”

As mayor, Martin said his key issues were beach nourishment and to see CBRA zone designations, which are ineligible for government funding including federal flood insurance, removed from the town. He hopes Tuman will continue efforts toward those goals.

“I know Dan will work hard on beach nourishment … and Dan said he would keep the taxes low so we’re going to have to hold him to that,” he said.

Three candidates — none of them incumbents — ran for the three available aldermen seats.

According to unofficial results, Mike Yawn received 187 votes, Deborah Lanci received 167 votes and Dick Macartney received 160 votes.

Mayor Pro Tem Larry Hardison ran a write-in campaign to retain his seat, and unofficial results show that there were 75 write-in votes received. The names of those who received write-in votes are not disclosed until a canvass, which is scheduled for Nov. 10 and will make results official.

Contact Suzanne Ulbrich at 910-219-8454.