LAURINBURG — Two people, including incumbent city council member Dee Hammond, filed Wednesday for the municipal elections in November.

Joni Weatherford Giles has filed for mayor of East Laurinburg. Also filing was Hammond for reelection to an at-large seat on council.

Hammond has served one term on council from 2013-17 and has worked in local government for 30 years. Hammond was also awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine, one of the highest awards presented for service to North Carolina.

“I have determined that I am ready to continue to put my experience and passion for Laurinburg to work for you again for another four-year term on the Laurinburg City Council,” Hammond said. “I want to continue the progress the current city council is making as well as continuing to be directly involved in how our city moves forward for success.”

In addition to serving on council, Hammond is a member of the North Carolina League of Municipalities General Government Legislative Action Committee, a former Scotland County United Way Board of Directors president, a member of the Scotland County Partnership for Children Board of Directors, Scotland County ABC Board chairperson, a past chairperson of the Laurinburg/Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce, and former president of the North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks.

She is a graduate of Laurinburg High School and has earned an Associate Degree in Science from King’s College, and a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill’s municipal and county administration program.

“My continued goal is to make Laurinburg a better place to live, work, and play. We cannot make our community better without investing ourselves to make us competitive with other municipalities to attract business and industry.”

James Garby has also filed for the council at-large seat.

Giles

Giles said she is running for the mayor of East Laurinburg to make the town a better place.

“I would love to make East Laurinburg great again and would like it to be a safe place for families,” Giles said.”I would like for all the old houses that are not livable to being torn down, so children will not be playing in unsafe places.”

This is the first time Giles has run for public office. The mayor’s office is currently held by Wayne Caulder, who is yet to file for reelection.

Gilesis member of Scotland High School Class of 1973 and works for Schaeffler Group USA Inc. in Cheraw, South Carolina.

“I love children and helping people,” she said.

Filing began on Friday and ends on July 21 at noon. There were no candidates to file on Tuesday.

Those wishing to file for one of the offices can do so weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Scotland County Board of Elections office at 231 E Cronly St. Laurinburg.

Hammond
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By Nolan Gilmour

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Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-506-3171