Filing period opens for municipal elections

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The filing period is officially underway as hopefuls across the area declare their intentions to run for public office.

Filings for this fall’s municipal elections started at 8 a.m. and run through noon on July 17.

Among those who filed today were Emilie Swearingen and Margaret Haynes, both of whom currently hold office.

Swearingen serves on the Kure Beach Town Council, but she hopes to be elected mayor. She says her campaign focuses on protecting the environment, planning for the future, and increasing communication and collaboration with residents.

“We’ve got to stop sticking our heads in the sand and actually talk about what would we like for Kure Beach to be 20, 30 years from now,” Swearingen said.

She adds she is very concerned about persevering the quality of life in Kure Beach and with that comes her opposition for seismic testing.

Haynes on the other hand is hoping to keep her seat on Wilmington City Council to serve a second term. She says the city is making a lot of progress and working towards the future with projects like the Water Street Parking Deck and the River Walk.

“I really came to government as a neighborhood advocate. I really believe in transparent government and in citizen participation. Those things are very important to me and I think those are assets I bring to the City Council,” she said.

Click below for links to your county’s Board of Elections to see who has filed to run:

Bladen County
Brunswick County
Columbus County
New Hanover County
Pender County

While the filing period ends a week from Friday, Election Day is November 3.