Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 13 - 19, 2022 UCW 7 Foot traffic was slow around noon ursday, July 7 on the first day of early voting at the Cumberland County Board of Elections. ere were more candidates and their supporters outside the elections office than there were early voters. At 12:18 p.m. — more than four hours after early voting began — 123 people had cast their votes, accord - ing to Angie Amaro, the interim director for the Cumberland County Board of Elections. "It's about what we expected," she said. "It will pick up probably the last week." Early voting continues through July 23 for the July 26 municipal election. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours on July 23, a Saturday, are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Early voting is only available at the Board of Elections Office at 227 Fountainhead Lane. Fayetteville voters will select a mayor and nine City Council district representatives. Fayetteville has 126,989 registered voters, Amaro said. "ey've got to live in the city limits of Fayetteville," Amaro said of the residents eligible to vote. She estimated that the overall turn - out for this off-year election would be roughly 16%. "Because every race is contested, which is unusual for Fayetteville," she said. She said the May primary drew 16.25% of the voters. Amaro, who has served as the Board of Election's interim director since Jan. 1, said a lot of people tend to vote early. "It's picked up over the years," she said, "as more and more people have heard about it." Wesley McIntyre El, 26, of Fayetteville, was outside the Board of Elections Office to support Brenda McNair, who is running against in - cumbent Larry Wright for the District 7 seat on the City Council. He said he voted ursday morn- ing. "You always prepare for a storm," he said. "Anything in life — you pre- pare for. You don't want to wait until the last minute." McIntyre said he wasn't surprised that turnout was slow on the first day of early voting. "It's a polarized climate," he said. "ere's no love in the air." Several candidates — including Mayor Mitch Colvin and his mayoral opponent Freddie Delacruz — were mostly trying to brave the stifling heat and humidity by sitting under tents and standing in the shade of a tree. Maria Cantu, 28, was working for candidate Mario Benavente, who is campaigning for the right to repre - sent District 3. District 3 Councilman Antonio Jones, who was appointed to the seat and is running to keep it, was also among the candidates outside the Board of Elections Office. Cantu said she cast her vote earlier in the day. "I feel that not enough young peo - ple are engaged. Both parties want to engage the millennial voter and the GenZer voters," she said of the Re- publicans and Democrats. "Basically, everyone wants to see young voters. "It's important to vote and make my voice heard," Cantu said. "Even one vote can make a difference." On the ballot In Fayetteville, voters will choose between the following candidates in 10 contests. Mayor: Mitch Colvin, Freddie Delacruz City Council District 1: Kathy Keefe Jensen, Alex Rodriguez City Council District 2: Shakeyla Ingram, Tyrone A. Williams City Council District 3: Mario Benavente, Antonio Jones City Council District 4: omas Greene, D.J. Haire City Council District 5: Johnny Dawkins, Fred Lachance City Council District 6: Peter Pappas, Derrick ompson City Council District 7: Brenda McNair, Larry Wright City Council District 8: Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, Mi- chael Pinkston City Council District 9: Deno Hondros, Yvonne Kinston Turnout slow on first day of early voting by MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today NEWS Make your voice heard! Mayoral/City- Council Election July 26 th General election Nov 8 th VOTE Photos by Jimmy Jones • paid for by Citizens for a "better" Fayetteville • upandcomingweekly.com MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.