The Battle Lines are Drawn for Fayetteville’s Mayoral Race
In the recent primary election, there were four candidates vying for the mayoral seat in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and there weren’t a lot of surprises, as we are now down to two for the general election.
As expected, incumbent Mayor Mitch Colvin came out on top with an impressive 61 percent of the vote, securing his spot in the general election scheduled for November. Freddie de la Cruz, who received 22 percent of the vote, will be his opponent in the upcoming General Election in November.
During his campaign, Mayor Colvin pledged to continue his efforts to improve housing access and boost workforce development for future jobs. His opponents, former Cumberland County commissioner and Fayetteville councilman Charles Evans, and Quancidine Hinson-Gribble, didn’t fare as well in the polls, receiving 16 percent and 1 percent of the votes, respectively.
On the other hand, Freddie de la Cruz has promised to focus on real estate and economic development initiatives in the city. His campaign seems to have struck a chord with some voters. The general election of November promises to deliver an important decision for the future of Fayetteville. Mayor Colvin and Freddie de la Cruz have presented voters with two different visions for the city’s future. It will be up to citizens to decide who they want to lead their community forward. The stakes are high, and it’s essential that everyone participates in this crucial process.
In addition to the mayoral race, there were several candidates competing for two open Fayetteville City Council positions (District 2 & District 5). In District 2, Malik Davis and Shakeyla Ingram emerged as winners among seven candidates and advanced to the general election. In District 5, Lynne Bissette Greene and Johnny Dawkins were the top vote-getters, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in November.
Overall, the primary elections saw a tick up in voter turnout. This is encouraging news for Fayetteville, as it illustrates that citizens are engaged and interested in local politics. As the general election approaches, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics of this race shifts and changes. Personally, I don’t care who you vote for, but I encourage you to get informed and get to the polls! Find candidates that align with your values and support them. People literally died for the right to vote in this country.
