LAURINBURG — The announced candidacy of incumbent Gibson town commissioner Randy Pearson on Friday brought the total number of candidates in November’s municipal elections to nine at the conclusion of the first week of filing.
Pearson was the sole candidate to file on Friday.
Laurinburg’s Mayor Tommy Parker is already guaranteed a challenge from former mayor and cardiologist Matthew Block, who he ousted in 2011.
Both incumbent City Council members whose seats are open, District 1 representative Curtis Leak and District 2 representative Mary Jo Adams, have filed in the hope of retaining their seats.
Laurinburg’s mayor and council members all serve four-year terms. The filing fee for all Laurinburg offices is $25.
In Wagram, town commissioner Jackie Laviner has filed for the mayoral seat currently held by Mayor Milton Farmer, who has yet to file. Wagram commissioner Bernice Gorham also filed this week in pursuit of a fifth term serving the town of 800.
Of the three candidates ultimately elected to Wagram’s board, the top two vote-getters will serve four-year terms and the third will serve a two-year term.
The filing fee for all Wagram offices is $5.
Gibson’s mayor of 10 years, Ronnie Hudson, has also filed for another two-year term. In addition to Pearson’s seat, the commissionership of Stephen Hudson is also open for another election.
The filing fee for candidates to any of the three Gibson seats is $15.
Though all four seats on East Laurinburg’s municipal council are open, including the mayoral seat, only town commissioner David Cooper has filed.
East Laurinburg’s filing fees are $18 for mayoral candidates and $12 for commissioners.
Filing is open at the Scotland County Board of Elections from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Filing will end at noon on July 17.
The Scotland County Board of Elections is located at the county annex at 231 East Cronly St. in Laurinburg.