Fayetteville Election Results: Runoffs Ahead for Mayor and Council Seats
The city of Fayetteville is gearing up for a decisive second round in its mayoral and one City Council election as none of the candidates received the required majority to win outright. The results, while still unofficial, point to a thrilling runoff between two strong contenders.
Mayor’s Race Heats Up
The mayoral contest saw four candidates vying for the top spot, but only two will advance to the next stage. Incumbent Lioneld Jordan, who has served as mayor since 2009 and is seeking his fifth term, is set to face off against Molly Rawn. Rawn, who has been the CEO of Experience Fayetteville, has made a strong run, securing 36.92% of the vote, just 10% behind Jordan’s 46.92%. Tom Terminella, a real estate developer, and Adam Fire Cat, a local entrepreneur, followed closely with 12.39% and 3.76%, respectively.
Runoff Date Announced
The runoff election will take place on December 3, leaving both candidates with a month to campaign intensively and win over additional voters. The stakes are high as both candidates have a clear vision for Fayetteville’s future. Jordan has focused on completing existing projects, addressing housing issues by flooding the market with homes, and bolstering workforce development programs. Rawn, on the other hand, has emphasized the need for affordable housing at various price points and reforming zoning policies to make housing more accessible to everyone.
A Look at the Contested City Council Seat
In addition to the mayor’s race, one City Council seat will also see a runoff. In the Ward 4 election, Monique Jones and Todd Hertzberg will face each other after securing 42% and 41% of the votes, respectively. Both have different visions for the ward, with Jones focusing on addressing food insecurity and housing instability through community-based solutions, while Hertzberg prioritizes public safety and making the city a better place to live overall.
Molly Rawn has sounded upbeat about her chances, emphasizing that the majority of voters are ready for change. In her statement, she noted, “The majority of the people in Fayetteville have let us know that they are ready for change. We worked hard to bring forward issues and ideas that matter deeply to Fayetteville, and I know these conversations will continue.” Meanwhile, Lioneld Jordan remains confident in his leadership, as mentioned in an interview: “We’ve got a really good lead right now … We’ll develop a strategy in the upcoming weeks… We’ve got to encourage voter turnout for the runoff as we continue our re-election campaign.”
The recent elections and the upcoming runoff have seen significant voter turnout. Nearly half of registered Fayetteville voters participated in the initial round, and both candidates are expecting a similar turnout for the runoff. As Rawn pointed out, “It’s all about turnout. Votes matter and getting out to the polls matters,” highlighting the importance of every single vote in shaping the future of Fayetteville
