First Posted: 11/7/2013

LUMBERTON — Two candidates who appear to have lost in the municipal elections will challenge the results during a hearing at the Robeson County Board of Elections on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

And one apparent winner is also challenging.

Charles Kemp, who lost his bid for a third four-year term as the mayor of Fairmont, issued a challenge with the county Board of Elections, according to Tina Bledsoe, interim supervisor of the Elections Office. Kemp had 396 votes to finish second behind current town Commissioner Bobby Townsend, who had 480.

Larry McNeill, a former Pembroke councilman, is also challenging the results. According to unofficial results, McNeill, who received 258 votes, lost the race for Town Council by nine votes to Mitch Lowry, who received 267. They are seeking to fill the remaining two years of the four-year term of Robert Williamson, who died in early 2012.

McNeill served previously on the council, but narrowly lost re-election in 2011. If McNeill can reduce Lowry’s victory margin to less than 1 percent of all the votes cast, then he would be able to ask for a recount.

Pembroke Councilman Allen Dial also is challenging the results, although according to unofficial totals he won re-election, winning the most votes of five candidates for two seats on the council

The Board of Elections is still processing write-in votes.

Contests such as Raynham City Council, Orrum mayor and Orrum town board will be determined by write-in votes as no candidates were listed on the ballots in those races.

The write-in results are expected to be available Tuesday by 11 a.m.

All of the results of the election are unofficial until the canvass, during which provisonal ballots are examined.