LAURINBURG –Incumbent J.D. Willis has filed for another term on the Laurinburg City Council.
Willis, who is seeking the District 1 seat, was the only person to file Tuesday for the November municipal elections. The two-week filing period will end Friday at noon.
During his time on council, Willis said he worked to help the city gain grants to attract business, increase diversity on the police force and decrease audit finding deficiencies.
He also said he has a strong history of bringing jobs to the city and county, including support for the expansion at FCC.
“I ask for your support and vote in the November 2017 election as we continue to make Laurinburg a better place to work and live,” Willis said.
Willis served 22 years as a Scotland County commissioner with a 12-year stint as chairman of the board. He was director of the Laurinburg Jaycees and served on the boards of directors for the Scotland County Literacy Council and the United Way. He is a member of St. Mary AME Zion in Laurel Hill, where he serves as the church’s trustee and financial clerk. He is married to Marie McLean Willis. They have two daughters.
Mary Evans has also filed for the District 1 seat.
There are two additional open seats on the Laurinburg City Council. They are District 2 and an at-large seat.
Other filers include incumbent Robert L. McLaughlin seeking reelection as a Wagram town commissioner and incumbent Kenneth G. Haney seeking reelection as a Gibson town commissioner.
McLaughlin and Haney did not provide The Laurinburg Exchange with information on their candidacies.
In East Laurinburg, the open seats include Mayor Wayne Caulder; Town Commissioner David Cooper; Town Commissioner Tyresa Haywood; and Town Commissioner Kenny Morton.
In the town of Gibson, those up for re-election include Mayor Ronnie Hudson; Town Commissioner Lula Adell Cottingham; Town Commissioner Mack (Pete) Wilkins; and Haney.
In Wagram seats open this year include Mayor Milton W. Farmer; Council Member William P. Stewart; Council Member Hyner Massey Jr.; and McLaughlin.
The town of Maxton, the open seats include Town Commissioner Virgil L. Hutchinson and the vacant seat of the late Town Commissioner Margaret Gilchrist.
Filing fees for the upcoming municipal elections are: $36 for Maxton; $25 for Laurinburg; $15 for Gibson; $18 to run for mayor and $12 to run for town commissioner East Laurinburg; and the fee is $5 to file for Wagram.
