The Hoffman and Ellerbe municipal elections didn’t have the same kind of drama as the contested mayoral and city council races in Rockingham and Hamlet.

In fact, there was but one registered candidate to choose from for each elected office, and only one of those single candidates wasn’t an incumbent.

Still, the elected officials of both towns expressed their gratitude at being tapped for their public offices for another term.

That candidate is the newly elected Mayor of Ellerbe Olivia Webb, who in her mid-20’s, may not have the look of most small town elected officials.

After receiving 90 votes in the election, however, she said she is ready to take the post.

“I was really encouraged by the number of people who came out to voice their support for me throughout the election process,” Webb said. “I love Ellerbe, I believe in the town’s future and I feel honored that the people of my hometown are going to allow me to serve them in this way.”

Hoffman Mayor Jo Ann Jasper-Thomas is hardly newly elected. She had held the mayor position for four terms before this election. She received all of the 44 votes cast.

“I’m just happy that the people seem to be confident and pleased with what I’ve been doing for the last eight years, and I’m looking forward to great success with the Hoffman School and continuing the sewer project,” she said. “I just pray to God that we can continue to grow as a town.”

Her husband Terry Thomas said he was also pleased with receiving 40 votes to be re-elected as a town councilman.

“I’m just happy to get back to taking care of the business of the Town of Hoffman,” Thomas said.

Hoffman Mayor Pro-Tem Tommy Hart received 44 votes to be re-elected to the town council.

“I appreciate all the voters that voted, and I will continue on working for Hoffman and doing the best I can,” Hart said. “I appreciate everybody that turned out to vote in Hoffman,” Hoffman Town Councilman Lee Butler said. “It was really an election where all the incumbents didn’t have any competition, but it’s still a democratic process and it was great to see them come out and vote.”

He said the town council is undertaking several projects “for the betterment of Hoffman and the county.”

“Moving forward, there’s a lot of things that are happening in the town now,” Butler continued. “We’ve got construction projects, the highway expansion, the acquisition of the school, the sewer project and improvement of the streets, and we’re focused on following those things through.”

Butler received 38 votes in the election.

Ellerbe also saw its three incumbents run unchallenged, after candidate Molly Russell dropped out of the race before voting took place, and all were put back in office.

Ellerbe Town Councilman Evon Craven said he’s enjoyed his 42 years living in Ellerbe, and he wants to continue to help the town.

“This is my third go-round, I’ve already served 10 years,” he said. “I’m going to keep on doing what I’ve been doing. I’m not changing anything, just doing what I feel is right for the Town of Ellerbe.”

In the election, he received 86 votes.

“I’d like to thank those that voted for me,” Craven said. “They must have confidence in what I’m doing to vote me back in three times. If I’ve got any enemies, I don’t know it.”

Hoffman Council members Rory Jones and Daniel Kelly were unable to be reached at press time, as were Ellerbe Town Council members Jerry Meacham and Brenda Chambers.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.