First Posted: 9/9/2011

PEMBROKE — Six candidates filed for the Lumbee Tribal Council on Friday, the last day of the filing period for the Nov. 15 elections.

One was McDuffie Cummings, who recently announced he would retire as the long-time town manager of Pembroke. Sharon Hunt, who has been the tribal chairperson since Purnell Swett resigned, did not seek election to that position, and her time as District 2 representative will also end because she is forbidden by tribal law to seek a third term.

The leaves Paul Brooks, JoAnn Chavis Lowery, Steve Sampson and Lynn Bruce Jacobs as candidates for the chairman’s seat.

Terry Lynn Hunt, of Fairmont, filed as a candidate for District 2, which encompasses Backswamp, Fairmont and Smyrna. Two others, Terry McNeill and Barbara Dial Hunt, have also filed as candidates for the seat.

Hunt, 56, is a Robeson County native, He retired in 2001 as police chief in Fairmont after serving as a member of the Fairmont Police Department for 22 years.

Hunt is active in the New Bethel Holiness Church in Rowland, where he serves as superintendent. He also is on the board of directors for the Rape Crisis Center in Robeson County, and is a member of the Fairmont Rotary Club.

Hunt said that he would work to ensure that members of the Lumbee Tribe, especially young adults, are receiving what they need to better their education. He said he also wants to provide help with the housing needs of tribal members, as well as address the needs of senior citizens.

“I just want to work for my people,” he said. “I’ve seen needs that haven’t been met.”

Hunt is married to Joann Hunt and has two children, Leanna Hunt, 20, and Travis Hunt, 24.

Three people filed for District 6, which encompasses Raft Swamp and North Pembroke. They are James Deese, the incumbent, McDuffie Cummings and Douglas Locklear. Deese and Cummings did not provide any biographical information to The Robesonian.

Locklear, 41, is the owner of Locklear and Son’s Home Improvement in Pembroke.

“My mission is to help provide the community with honest and compassionate leadership,” he said.

Locklear is a member of St. Annah Church, where he is a Sunday School teacher. He is married to Mary Locklear and has three children and a granddaughter.

Also filing on Friday was Alton Locklear, for District 3, which encompasses Lumberton, and Luther Strickland in District 12, which includes Scotland County, Maxton and Alforsdsville. Neither of these two candidates provided The Robesonian with any biographical information.

Carrey Mustoe and Lesaundri “Lee” Hunt had already filed in District 3. Pam Hunt is vacating the seat.

Strickland will face Jeffery Locklear, Walter Lowery and Autry Lowery Sr. for the District 12 seat being vacated by Shelly Strickland, who has served two terms.

At the end of the filing period on Friday, 21 candidates have filed for the November elections. These include four candidates for tribal chairperson. Incumbent Charles Bullard in District 5, which includes Oxendine and Prospect townships, and incumbent Linda Revels in District 11, which encompasses Hoke County, are unopposed.

Eric R. Locklear, and incumbent Terry Campbell are seeking the seat in District 7, which includes South Pembroke and Union.