LUMBERTON - Two people filed Monday and a third withdrew his name from the upcoming Nov. 6 municipal elections.

Alphonzo McRae Jr. withdrew from the race on Thursday. McRae could not be reached for comment.

Orrum Mayor Vance Bass and his wife Donna, an incumbent council member in Orrum, filed on Monday after the county Board of Elections extended the filing period until noon on Wednesday in hopes of filling the vacant seats in several small towns.

Elections Director Dock Locklear said the couple were out of town last week and missed Friday's deadline.

Until Monday, no one had filed for mayor and only three candidates had filed for the four open seats on the Orrum town board.

The Board of Elections continues to seek candidates for the two open seats in Lumber Bridge and there are still not enough candidates for all the seats on the Raynham, McDonald and Proctorville boards. If no one files after Wednesday, Locklear said residents in those towns would have the option of using “write-in” ballots.

Paul Hunt Jr., who had filed for one of the two seats in Rowland, changed his candidacy on Friday. Hunt is now challenging Marquis Johnson for the unexpired term of the late Commissioner Charles Johnson.

Filing for Johnson's seat has also been extended to noon on Wednesday. The winner will serve the rest of his term, which ends in December 2009.