WINTON – Decisions await the people of Murfreesboro.

After filing closed yesterday at 12 noon, three people had filed for the office of mayor and a total of nine candidates are seeking five town council seats.

Incumbent Murfreesboro Mayor Lynn Johnson filed to seek her second term. She will be opposed by current Town Councilman William “Bill” Stephens and by Libby Whitaker.

There is no shortage of those who would replace Stephens on the town council, however, as four incumbents and five newcomers have thrown their hat into the ring.

Current town council members Lloyd Hill, Gloria Odum, Bill Theodorakis and Sarah Whitely Wallace have all filed to seek reelection. Five newcomers are also seeking spots on the board. They include Craig Dennis, former Town Administrator Molly Eubank, Joe Murray, Robert Vincent and Terry Williams.

The town of Ahoskie will also have competition in the council race. C.R. Askew, who was appointed to fill the seat of the late Larry “Cutt” Vann, will face a challenge from Vann’s brother, Maurice Vann in Ward B.

Winton will also have a race this November, with incumbent Mayor Calvin Hall meeting the challenge of newcomer Orland G. Reed.

In Harrellsville, the town board was short one candidate from having a full slate. Incumbents Deborah Baker, Jo M. Liles, Coleman Taylor and Mary Thompson filed to retain their seats on the board, but Councilman Roy Worrells Jr. did not file.

Since there is still a vacancy on the slate, the Hertford County Board of Elections extended filing for that seat only until 12 noon on Wednesday.

Ahoskie Mayor Linda Blackburn, Como Mayor Irvin Stephens, Harrellsville Mayor Robert Dantz and Cofield Mayor Hermea Pugh all filed unopposed to seek reelection.

As for town boards, the Como Town Council will remain unchanged with incumbents Kevin Higbee, Susan Kennington, Stephen Pearce and Ann Spruill filing unopposed to retain their seats.

In Ahoskie, Councilwoman Elaine Myers filed unopposed in Ward A.

There will be slight changes in the Cofield and Winton town boards.

In Winton, current board members Ernest Green, Charles Jones, Wesley Liverman and McCoy Pierce will be joined by newcomer Will Liverman on the board. Incumbent council member Carolyn Bazemore did not seek reelection.

Como will have two new board members as Stephen Lassiter and Darrell T. Partlow filed as newcomers for town council. They were joined by incumbents Anthony Archer, Nettie Combo Brickers and Lee Watford Jr. Current board members Ronald Sutton and Anthony Wynn chose not to file.