LUMBERTON — With about a month to go until the filing period for elections begins, the Lumberton mayoral race is already taking shape.
Lumberton City Councilman Don Metzger has declared he will run for mayor, joining former Councilman Bruce Davis in the contest. Lumberton Mayor Raymond Pennington is not seeking a seventh term.
Metzger succeeded Davis in representing Lumberton’s Precinct 1 after Davis decided not to seek re-election to the seat. Davis served on the City Council for 24 years, including one term representing Precinct 8.
First elected to the City Council in 2007, Metzger was unopposed in a 2011 bid to hold onto the position. From the start, Metzger intended to serve just two terms on the council, and decided recently to run for mayor. He currently serves as mayor pro tem.
“The primary reason I want to run for mayor is I feel like Lumberton is on the verge of really taking some dramatic steps forward,” Metzger said, citing Northeast Park, a Sanderson Farms hatchery, two new hotels and downtown development as examples.
Since first running for council, Metzger has had a policy of spending conservatively while seeking new sources of revenue for the city. He says Lumberton needs to be a “destination” for travelers.
“… Tourism is potentially one of our biggest revenue generators if we will just do the right things in order to get people to stay more than one night,” he said. Metzger would like to see the city do more with the Lumber River and local historical sites and make Exit 19 a “gateway” to downtown complete with a river-side welcome center.
A retired businessesman, Metzger said he is comfortable leading groups and balancing budgets.
“I’m very much aware of our finances, our needs and our challenges,” he said.
As mayor, Metzger says he would like to organize regular “precinct meetings” as well as hold regular meetings that would include city staff and legislators.
“I’ve been told that I have the ability to meet with people and build community and we need that,” Metzger said. “If we’re working together, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”
Metzger says he would work to represent the entire city’s interests, not just Precinct 1’s. Addressing crime will be a priority.
“I make it a point to get out in the community. I enjoy meeting and relating to the community,” Metzger said. “To me, the mayor isn’t actually the manager of the city … but he is certainly an ambassador and he certainly can provide vision — and I think I’m uniquely qualified in those areas.”
Having run B.W. Davis Construction for 40 years, Davis says he also has the business know-how and the people skills to lead Lumberton.
“I have the business background and political experience to work with the council and help our city grow and prosper,” Davis said. “I think I can make a difference and truly look forward to serving as your mayor.”
Davis served as mayor pro tem twice during his six terms on the City Council and was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2008. He is credited with helping to make the Southeastern North Carolina Agricultural Events Center a destination for meetings.
Davis worked with four mayors while on the council, including Pennington, and says he would take cues from his predecessors if elected.
“Having been there a long time you really have a deeper understanding of the cycle,” Davis said. “Every year you have to spend money, you have to collect money, you have to improve things, you have to keep personnel in line, you have to keep employees happy … It all boils down to the more experiences you’ve had in that arena, the better you’ll be able to perform when you’re faced with an issue.”
Davis said he would focus on boosting tourism and recreation and recruiting industries in an effort to bring more revenue to the city.
“I think that recreation is important, I think that zoning is important and I think that keeping a balanced budget and the tax rates in line are paramount to keep the city moving in the right direction,” he said.
Davis believes he can reach voters beyond the precincts he has represented.
“As a person that has served two precincts. I know that there are needs that might be in one precinct and not in another precinct,” he said.
Davis says he is “as ready as I will ever be” to serve as mayor.
“I’ve been off the council some time and I think that when you’re off you really have the opportunity to turn and create a new perspective on what can be done,” he said.
The period for candidates to file for election begins at 8:15 a.m. on July 6 and ends at noon on July 17.
In addition to the mayor’s position and Metzger’s council seat, races will also be held for the following precincts: Precinct 4, currently represented by Harry Ivey; Precinct 6, currently represented by Robert Jones; and Precinct 7, currently represented by Leon Maynor.
Sarah Willets can be reached at 910-816-1974 or on Twitter @Sarah_Willets.
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