at PTI

NW GREENSBORO – Honda Aircraft Co. selected Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport last week for a $55.7 million expansion of its HondaJet operations that will create 280 jobs.

The Greensboro airport beat out a site in Alberta, Alabama, for the production of the HondaJet 2600,

Filing season soon draws to a close

Period for candidates to file for office in November municipal elections will close this Friday

by PATTI STOKES

NW GUILFORD – The filing period for mayor and town council candidates in Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Stokesdale will close Friday, July 21, at noon. As of Wednesday afternoon, the following citizens have filed to run in the Nov. 7 municipal elections:

Oak Ridge

Five candidates have filed for the three open seats on Oak Ridge Town Council. The candidates include current council members George McClellan and Martha Pittman, along with former council and Planning Board member Mike Stone, and newcomers Jim Harton and Michael Greeson.

After taking a break from the council, former mayor and longtime council member Spencer Sullivan returned last year to serve the remainder of the late Doug Nodine’s term after Nodine experienced health issues. Sullivan has not filed to run for election this November when his term expires.

Oak Ridge Town Council has five members, each serving staggered four-year terms (with two elected in one municipal election and three elected in the next municipal election). Ann Schneider, who currently serves as mayor, and Jim Kinneman, who serves as mayor pro tem, are midway through their four-year terms, with their seats opening in November 2025.

Oak Ridge’s mayor is elected from among the town council members; although the mayor serves at the pleasure of the council and can be voted in – or out – at any time, the council traditionally votes for its mayor every two years in December, following the previous month’s election.

Summerfield

Summerfield has five council members who serve staggered fouryear terms and a mayor, who is elected separately by the citizens for a two-year term. Mayor Tim Sessoms has filed for re-election and as of this writing, is the only candidate for mayor.

Summerfield’s mayor does not vote on matters that come before the council except in the case of a tie vote.

Council members Lynne Williams DeVaney, who serves as mayor pro tem, Jeff Davis and Reece Walker have all filed to run for another four-year term, with no other candidates on the ballot as of this writing.

Council members John Doggett and Janelle Robinson are midway through their four-year terms, with their seats opening in November 2025.

Stokesdale

Stokesdale’s Town Council has five members including the mayor, who is elected separately by the citizens and votes on all matters that come before the council. All council members serve staggered four-year terms.

Council members Derek Foy, who serves as mayor pro tem, Jim Rigsbee and Jimmy Landreth have all filed for re-election in November; no other candidates have filed as of this writing. Mayor Mike Crawford and council member Tim Jones are midway through their council terms, with their seats opening in November 2025.

For info about registering to vote, polling locations and more, visit www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/ board-of-elections. Early Voting information for the 2023 election cycle will be posted closer to voting dates in October and November.