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lections for Oriental’s commissioners (and mayor) happen this November. Eleven candidates have filed for 5 commissioner seats; there is one candidate for mayor. One resident writes in suggesting an entirely new Board be voted in.

The 2013 Oriental Commissioners’ election brought forth a field of 10 candidates to address concerns such as financial issues after Hurricane Irene clean-up and the imminent arrival of a Walmart Express. The past five elections though have seen a significant drop in candidates, with only six on the ballot for five positions two years ago.

In February of 2024, my message at a Town Meeting concerning comments about former town employee Drew Cox by a seated commissioner included, “The only positive I can see coming from this is that maybe this will be a ‘wake-up call’ to citizens to pay attention and understand what’s going on among members of this Board. Attend meetings, hold commissioners accountable, and consider running in the next election rather than sitting back complacently and assuming that all will run smoothly, as it did for years up until now.”

Happily, this has come to pass as 11 candidates – two incumbents and nine new contenders – have filed to run in this year’s November 4th election.

I yearn for those years when our Oriental Town Board worked together for the good of the town without personal agendas and contentiousness among commissioners. To this end, I hope that “out with the old and in with the new” in order to “restore our village” will come to pass in November. We have signage to such in our yard; if you would like to proclaim the same, stop by Broad St. Custom Signage at 801 Broad Street and get a placard, too.

A Candidate Forum is being planned for October at The Old Theater just as there was in 2013. Stay tuned, attend the forum, learn what you can about the 11 candidates, and vote thoughtfully and responsibly come November 4th.

Jean White
Oriental, NC
July 31, 2025