Mark Locklear-Staff writer

PEMBROKE - Eighteen candidates are vying for seven seats that are up for grabs on the Lumbee Tribal Council in Tuesday's Tribal Election.

Races will be held in Districts 2, 3, 6, 7, 12 and 13. District 8 Incumbent Jerl Locklear is unopposed. Three incumbents are attempting to retain their seat. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Eligible voters must be 18 years or older on the date of election and have lived in the named districts for at least 30 days before the election.

Tribal members who live outside the tribal territory designated as Robeson, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland counties are eligible to vote. Those members must declare a voting district which should be the community where they or their family was raised.

Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins is encouraging all tribal members to vote. He said it is equally important to support Lumbee candidates in other elections on Tuesday.

"We have a number of tribal members running in the general election that need our vote, and if every eligible tribal member goes to the polls on Nov. 2 and casts a vote for the tribal member running for office, it will make a major difference in the outcome," Goins said.

"According to information released by the Voter Registration Office, American Indians are the largest group of registered voters (in Robeson County), therefore, we should be able to guarantee a victory for our tribal members if we all go to the polls and vote."

The races

In the District 2 race, newcomers Gerald Goolsby and Terry McNeill are seeking to fill the seat held by Louise Mitchell. Mitchell can't run because of the two-term limit rule. District 2 includes Fairmont, Back Swamp and Smyrna.

District 3 Incumbent David Carter faces three challengers, Earl Scott, Pam Spaulding and Hearl Oxendine. District 3 includes Lumberton.

Rose Marie Lowery-Townsend, McDuffie Cummings and Lawrence Locklear are seeking Larry Townsend's District 6 seat. Lowery-Townsend is married to the incumbent. Townsend has served two consecutive terms. District 6 is comprised of Raft Swamp and North Pembroke.

The District 7 race is crowded with four candidates. Sherman Brooks, James Harold Locklear, James Earl Scott and Haynes Deese Jr. are seeking Delton Oxendine's seat. Oxendine has served two consecutive terms. The district includes South Pembroke and Union townships.

Former Councilman Danita Locklear is attempting to take her seat back from incumbent Montford "Buddy" Dial. Scotland County, Maxton, and Alfordsville all make up District 12.

District 13 Incumbent Al Locklear is being challenged by the Rev. Ricky Burnett. The district includes Cumberland County, Parkton, Lumber Bridge, and North St. Pauls.

The following are locations of polling sites:

District 2 - Hilly Branch Career Center, Heritage Haven and Smyrna Fire Department

District 3 - Barker Ten Mile Community Center and West Lumberton Elementary School

District 6 - Indian Education Resource Center and O.P. Owens Building

District 7 - Pembroke Middle School and Union Elementary School

District 12 - Alfordsville Community Building, Townsend Middle School, Gary Pond Baptist Church

District 13 - North Carolina Indian Housing Authority, Parkton (in front of rescue squad building) and South View Middle School