Leland Mayor, Town Council Face Challengers
Voters in Leland will decide
I ucmI.i) it the present mayor anil
two ti?vn council members should
loiitinuc ilie job ol building a town
that incorporated in 1989.
Mayor Russell Baldwin laces a
challenge from S.L. IX>ty. who
served as mayor of Kure Beach lor
I I years.
Coimcilmcmbers Lynette Carlisle
and Jane Gilbert occupy the two
town council seats up for grabs.
They are seeking rv -election, but al
so in the race is Thomas D. Hyatt.
Ms. Gilbert. Hyatt and Doty are
campaigning together.
S.L. DOTY
Doty says Leland needs a mayor
"who will be responsive to the
needs of the people."
He served as mayor of Kure
Beach (1970-81). as mayor pro tein
and town commissioner there. He
was also chiet
of the Kure
Beach Fire
Dcparuncnt and
chairman of the
New Hanover
County
Fire m an's
Association in
1969.
lite pastor of
First Baptist
Church of Woodbum is married to
Carolyn S. Doty and has four chil
dren. He is a graduate of Gray High
in Winston Salem and Fruitland
Baptist Bible Institute.
"The town also needs a mayor
who will work to establish harmony
within the town, the surrounding
community and other state and fed
eral government officials." he said.
Doty served on the Lower Cape
Fear Council of Governments board
and New Hanover County's
Hazardous Waste Commission.
He believes Leland should elimi
nate unnecessary spending and uti
lize existing resources more effi
ciently, so "funds will be more read
ily available to address the routine
needs of the citizens."
"I am strongly opposed to any tax
increases during this term," said
Doty, "and this common sense ap
proach to spending is what is need
ed to realize that goal."
If elected, he said he would op
pose closed-door meetings and want
a town attorney present at all meet
ings.
"1 believe the meetings should be
open, cxept in extreme situations."
said Doty, "and citizens should be
encouraged to participate."
"I have 10 good years of experi
ence," he added. "I care for people.
My record will show that I work
with people. Our democracy is of
the people, for the people and by
the people. This is the democratic
process which our nation stands for,
not a dictatorship."
LYNETTE CARLISLE
Ms. Carlisle, elected to the coun
cil in 1989, also serves on the
Brunswick County Emergency
Medical Services Advisory Council.
A graduate of Millcr-Motic
Business College, she is employed
by LCP Chemical Co. of Leland,
where she has worked for 25 years.
She and her husband. Bernie, have a
son.
Ms. Carlisle has been active in
town politics, serving as chairman
Belville Seats
Unopposed
Belville Mayor Kenneth Messer
and two candidates for the town
council are running unopposed.
Incumbents Trindalyn Boswcll
and Wanda Watson chose not to run
lor re-election to the town council.
Filing for their seats arc Markland
S. Carper and Cindy Messer, wife
of Mayor Messer.
I he mayor is elected every two
years, and commissioners serve
four-year terms.
Carper, 43, a self-employed
plumber and wastewater system op
erator, was the only candidate to re
turn a questionnaire to The
Brunswick Beacon.
He is a 1964 graduate of Park
land High in Winston-Salem and
studied plumbing at Cape Fear
Community College. He received
his suite license in 1986.
A political newcomer. Carper is
active in area little league baseball
and is a former resident of Long
Beach.
Since he has no business interest
in the town, he said, "I feel 1 would
listen to the people widi an open car
and mind. 1 think die area has great
promise."
The town needs a sewer and wa
ter system, park and recreational
area with a Brunswick River access
and to enact arid enforce a building
code, he said.
An area on die river would serve
as a "place lor old and young to go
and enjoy, picnic, fish," said Carper.
Hie town also needs to clean up
its commercial and residential prop
erty, he added. A sewer system
would help environmentally since
the town rests on the river and
would also help open up the land
potential, he said.
t \KI |s| >
of I Ik* Leland Planning
Commission. chairman of ihc
1. eland I k'.ilth and Sanitation
Commission and pcisomtel nil nor
lor (lie town.
She also solved oil llio Kurd of
directois ol iIk*
Leland Civic
Association that
helped incor|H>- /
rate the town *
and servos as an
officer at die
First Baptist
C'linioli ol
WoixllHini.
"Beginning a
new town is an
cxcitiug challenge." said Ms.
Carlisle. "The organization of the
police departinent and the sewer
system is not completed. 1 would
like to see this work finished."
She said the building ol a |H>licc
department is a "tienieinlous under
taking and needs loo percent sup
port Irom council." A sewer system
is needed for commercial develop
ment. she added.
Residential areas are e.\|vrienc
in>: problems with septic tanks, and
a sewer system would "make a |ms
itive impact on the town's future."
she added.
"I have woiked positively for the
last two years." said Ms. Carlisle. "I
make responsible decisions that ate
the best lor the majority. I under
stand the time and dedication re
quired to do the best job. and give
what is required. It's liatd work,
fun. educational and I love the chal
lenge."
Rl'SSKLL BALDWIN
Baldwin, a former newspaper ed
itor, graduated from UNC-Chapel
Hill (1950) vviili
a degree in po
litical science
and journalism.
I le set ved as
president ol the
Leland Civic
Association in
IMS1), as chair
man ol the Le
land Cluuter
Commission B.\l.imix
and serves on the executive board
of the Brunswick County
Educational Foundation.
Baldwin was ap|<ointed interim
mayor ol Leland in Septenilvr I *>St>
and was elected to the seat in Nov
einlvr ll>Nl>.
lie heljvd to lead a successful
campaign t>v the Civic Association
to mcoi|*irate the town and helped
to draft the town chatter.
"(We) faced a tough light to in
corporatc Leland and won," said
Baldwin. "'Hie challenge now is to
build a pros|>er(>us town that can
provide needed services."
Important issues facing town
leaders Unlay arc the need lor a
sewer system, a need to develop hu
man resources and town zoning and
subdivision icgulatious now under
development, said Baldwin.
Sewer, he said, would spur com
mercial, industrial and residential
development and increase the
town's ia\ base. Hie town will also
need to supjHirt a northern area li
I. II. HI K I
brary. education (especially
preschool) and recreational facilities
lor youth and senior citizens, he
added.
"I have stronger lies and a deeper
cvNiiiiiiiiiieiii to (eland, " said
Baldwin. "Also, I can devote 40
hours a week or more to the |x>si
iioii. compared to ail eight-hour
cvxiiuiitiiieiit hv (mv) opponent."
JANK (?li.ltKK I
Councilmemher Jane Gilbert says
she hopes to return to the hoard,
along with a new mayor and new
lellow council nieinher.
"It is essential that a new mayor
and council person be elected thai
will join me." said Ms. Ciiilvrl, "in
working to establish a trusting rela
tionship with our citi/ens. our sur
rounding communities and other
government officials."
Since I. eland became a town two
years ago. she said, the mayor and
two council
members have
"repeatedly dis
regarded the
wishes of the
community" on
such issues as
annexation, do
nations to civic
organizations,
c oope ra t i o n
with neighbor
ing communities, unnecessary exec
utive sessions, hiring a police chief
who is not certified and attempting
to control the town's volunteer or
ganizations, she said.
A graduate of Salisbury State
College, Ms. Gilbert has also stud
ied at the University of Maryland,
Kansas University and UNC
Wilmington. A special education
teacher in New Hanover County,
she and her husband, Donald, have
five children.
Ms. Gilbert also serves on the
Biuuswick County Keep America
Beautiful Board, the N.C. Bee
Keepers Association Board and as
recycling coordinator lor northern
Brunswick.
"I have worked hard for the past
two years to be one council member
that the citizens could trust," said
Ms. Gilbert. "I believe I have
earned their trust, and they know
that I will continue to serve them
with honesty and integrity."
Leland needs a "strong code of
ethics and lules" lor the council, a
zoning ordinance to guide growth
and to protect neighborhoods, a
sewer and iccycling program and to
diop all plans lor annexation, she
said.
THOMAS I). IIYATT
Hyatt, a 21 -year employee of the
DuPont Co. in
Leland, is trying
for one of the
council
attended
(S.C.)
School
and later earned
his general
equivalency
"YAn d i p I o n. a
through the U.S. Army.
I II lllllll III 1 1 II llllllllllll II I II II III III
VOTE
SfiRfiH TRIPP
MAYOR OF SHfiLlOTTE
FOR CONTINUED
GOOD GOVERNMENT
Paid for by the candidate
L^n 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 n 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 n 1 1 1 1 n 1 1 1 1 1 ii
He has served on the board ol di
rectors lor the Dul'ont L-mployees
Credit Union, oil the Lcland Library
Building Committee and Lelaiid
Library Fund Raising Committee.
He and his wile. Juanita. have lour
children.
"I feel that it's time for the town
ol I. eland to have a council that is
responsive to the people." said
Hyatt. "Alter talking u> many peo
ple ol the town. I leel and believe
that I am the person to be res|x>n
sive to the citi/ens. "
Hyatt said he would vote against
a lax increase, light annexation and
push lor northern Brunswick
Cininty consolidation ii elected.
A lax increase would not be
needed for the next two years if the
town uses existing resources ell'i
ciently, he said.
"I leel that annexation ol any
kind should be put on hold at this
time," said Hyatt, "until the town ol
Lcland can provide services for the
town and then any area to be an
nexed, if the new area voted by ma
jority to be annexed."
He believes effoits should be
made to consolidate the numerous
towns in iioithcrn Brunswick
County.
"II tins cannot l<c done at this
lime," he added, "then every effort
should be made to establish good
anil lair working relations between
all towns."
Hyatt said he is the most quali
fied for the council, "because I be
lieve that the town belongs to all
citi/ens, and not to just a few town
board members," he added. "I have
no conllict of interest that would
prevent me from carrying out my
duties as a councilman."
Mayor Unopposed; Five Seek
Four Board Seats In Bolivia
All hut one of the candidates run
ning lor dI lice in Bolivia will gain
election Tuesday.
Mayor Ina Mae Mini/, is unop
posed in her bid for re-election to a
sixth consecutive term.
Two incumbents, Cecil I). Rob
bins Jr. and Robert S. Willetts III
did not seek re-election, while Sai
ah E. Knox has filed for a second
term. Incumbent lilla Jane Wcscott.
who has served on the board for at
least 10 years, is also seeking re
election. Making their first bids for
town office are Alice Lesh, Sherry
Willetts anil Thurston (Tut)
Clcmmons Jr.
In Bolivia, the mayor's post ami
and all four seals on the board of al
dermen are up for election every
two years.
Only two candidates returned the
Beacon's questionnaire, with Boliv
ia's future as a town upmost on their
mind.
THURSTON (TUT)
CLKMMONS JK.
Clcmmons, a retired U.S. Air
Force major,
says he is seek
ing election as a
civic duty and
to improve liv
ing conditions
in the commu
nity. litis is his
first bid for
public office.
"I do not
claim to be the
most qualified, just the most deter
mined," he wrote when asked what
factors make him the most qualified
candidate.
During the coming term, he be
lieves the community must deter
mine if Bolivia's status as an incor
porated town is justified in view of
its limited tax base, limited ability
to ptovide services and town tax
rate that is among the highest in the
county.
Should its status as a town prove
justified, Clcmmons says Bolivia
must pursue expansion of its tax
base, encourage residential and
business growth and adopt whatever
ordinances arc necessary to ensure a
quiet, clean town.
Also, he believes the town should
adjust its tax rate in keeping with its
\ *
\ ? *
\ /
Cl.KMMONS
ability lo provide services.
Clcmmons served as an educa
tion and training administrator in
the U.S. Air Force from I960- 1975.
He was an instructor and served on
the administrative staff at
Brunswick Community College
I'roin 19X1 through 19X7. He holds
two degrees Iroin the University ol
South Carolina, a bachelor of sci
ence (1957) and a master's in edu
cation (1959).
He and his wife, Margaret, have
three children, all of whom are
grown.
A LICK LKSII
A retired educator, Alice Lesh
says she is seek-ing election be
cause she wants to be a public ser
vant and to help lind ways of insur
ing the stability of the town of
Bolivia.
Economic development is one of
her main concerns as Mrs. Lesh
seeks her public office for the first
time.
She would like to sec the town
enhance its present water system to
meet the demands of industrial de
velopment and gel involved in eco
nomic development with the pur
|K)sc of creating more jobs for the
unemployed in the Bolivia commu
nity.
She would like to see the town
work to reduce crime and augment
public safety by working with the
Brunswick County Sheriff's
Department to establish a
Community Watch program- a way
for residents to report potential acts
ol burglary, theft and other misde
meanors.
Establishment of a trash pick-up
service rounds out her list of key is
sues the hoard should address dur
ing the coining term.
Mis. I.esh retired in 1 984 after 35
years of teach
ing at Bolivia
Elementary I
School. She is
a charter mem
ber of the
Bolivia Lions J
Club, recipient
of the District
Governor's
Distinguished
Achievement
Award for District No. 31-H, and is
serving this year as program and so
cial director. She is also secretary of
Forest Lawn Cemetery.
She holds a B.S. degree from the
University of South Carolina and a
reading certificate, served as chair
man of die North Carolina
Association of Educators legislative
committee in 1965; worthy matron
of Live Oak Chapter No. 179, Order
of Eastern Stai, Soudiport, in 1967;
and was a charter member of Beta
Beta Chapter of Brunswick County,
Alpha Delta Kappa educators' hon
orary and served on its executive
board from 1972 through 1974.
She is die wife of the late
Winfred R. Lcsh Sr. and is a mother
of three.
Blue &
Silver
High Top
Conversion Van
Full Power
Rear AC. IV
NICE!^$8,333
JONES FORD
1-800-832-5328 ? 754-4341
Hwy. 1 7 N? Shollotte ? M-F 8-7, Sat. 9-4
? *i mi / ?rs ~
S.L. DOTY JANE GILBERT THOMAS D. HYATT
S.L. DOTY, JANE GILBERT and THOMAS HYATT
WILL GIVE LELAND CITIZENS
A VOICE IN COUNCIL DECISIONS
IN LELAND
ELECT
S.L. DOTY -MAYOR
JANE GILBERT - COUNCILMAN
THOMAS HYATT - COUNCILMAN
on Tuesday, November 5th
Paid for by (he committee to elect these candidates