New London voters elect two new candidates to town commission, re-elects mayor

Published 12:37 am Wednesday, November 9, 2022

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New London’s commission will have two new members and will retain the incumbent candidate for mayor after the results of Tuesday’s election.

Mayor Tate Daniels won reelection by a wide margin, receiving 214 votes (73.54%), over current board member Johnny Chesnut, who received 77 votes (26.46%).

Sidney Lanier and Tim Higgins both earned seats on the town’s commission out of five candidates running for election. Lanider led the way with 141 votes (28.03%) with Higgins finishing second with 136 votes (27.04%). Incumbent board members Christy Starnes (117, 23.26%), Bill Rogers (63, 12.52%) and Marcus Mullis (46, 9.15%) were third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Daniels said the current town council “has worked together very well. We’ve always gotten along. We discuss things, but in the end, we all come together.”

The mayor added he was glad to be reelected, saying, “we’ve got a few more things I’d like to see get done.”

Daniels mentioned New London Park, which is putting the finishing touches on another shelter inside it, a timber frame shelter in the woods. Another shelter or building may come later to the park as well, he added.

New London has also worked with Fiberon, helping the company with its expansions, which he noted “has created quite a few jobs.”

The mayor also said he and the town council have worked with Culp Lumber Company to open a new entrance to the facility which will keep log trucks out of the town’s center.

Daniels also mentioned the town purchasing land next to the town hall property. He said there are no immediate plans for the land.

In a text message, Higgins said, “I am excited for this new opportunity to serve my community.”

He said he has lived in the area since 1999 and moved into New London’s town limits a year and a half ago.

A member of the town’s volunteer fire department, Higgins said he wants to help the community and “see what their thoughts are moving forward. We like the town of New London, the feel of a small town, but we will see what (citizens) want to go forward with in the town, and do what we can to help.”

Lanier said New London “is a wonderful small town” and is proud to live there, having volunteered with the town’s fire department for many years.

Running for the board came “at a time in my life when I was ready to try to do more for the town and be a part of that.” He has worked for 24 years as a sales manager at Culp Lumber Company.

Lanier said he wants New London to “keep things on the right track for the future, keep (New London) as a nice, small town.”

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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