First Posted: 8/22/2013

PEMBROKE — The filing period for anyone planning to run for one of seven seats on the 21-member Lumbee Tribal Council opens Monday and continues through Sept. 13. The election will be held on Nov. 12.

District council seats to be filled are District 2, Back Swamp, Fairmont and Smyrna, currently held by Louise Mitchell; District 3, Lumberton, currently held by Pearlean Revels; District 6, North Pembroke and Raft Swamp, currently held by Larry Chavis; District 7, South Pembroke and Union, currently held by Larry Campbell; District 8, Burnt Swamp, currently held by Steve Sampson; District 12, Maxton, Alfordsville and Scotland County, currently held by Danita Locklear; and District 13, Cumberland County, Parkton, Lumber Bridge and North St. Pauls, currently held by William Maiden.

Because the Lumbee Tribe’s constitution limits anyone from serving more than two consecutive three-year terms on the council, Mitchell, Chavis and Sampson are ineligible to seek re-election.

The Elections Board office was recently relocated from in back of the Tribal Housing complex on N.C. 711 to the tribe’s former administrative office complex on Union Chapel Road. The address of the new office is 707 Union Chapel Road.

Carvicous Barfield, the board’s chairman, believes the new office is better suited for conducting business associated with elections.

“In the long run this will probably be better,” she said. “There is more space and a better overall environment.”

Candidates for any of the positions, all of which are for three-year terms, can file at the elections office on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The filing fee is $250.

Tribal Council candidates must be enrolled tribal members of at least 21 years of age; maintained their principal residence in their district for no less than one year; and have no felony conviction.