Fremont Aldermen candidates - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

2 August 2007 — The race for aldermen’s seats in Fremont this year isn’t looking like a tight one for the most part, but only time will tell. Though only one district has opposing candidates, there is always the possibility that a late-breaking write-in candidate could unseat incumbents. But for now, the race looks pretty straightforward.

District 4 is the only district with more than one name on the ballot. Newcomer Al Lewis has challenged incumbent Harold Cuddington, who has held his seat for the past four years.

Mr. Lewis spent much of his 65 years living in Wilson, but has resided in Fremont for the past 11 years. He and his wife Herlene reside on E. South Street, and they have two grown daughters. He is retired from Firestone, and works for the maintenance department at Edgewood School in Goldsboro.

Mr. Lewis attends First Missionary Baptist Church. He is also a member of the Masonic Lodge, but is not currently active. He has not served on the town board before, but is currently a member of the planning board, which he said sparked his interest in running. He said he is running for office because he wants to help the citizens make a difference.

“I just want to help the citizens as much as I can,” he said.

Harold Cuddington is the incumbent in the race. Mr. Cuddington was elected to the seat in 2003 and opted to run for a second term, he said, to continue to promote the improvements the board has begun working on.

“I like the progress we’re making, but I think we can do more to decrease rates for the citizens,” he said. “It’s been a burden on all of them, and I think we can improve some other operations as well.”

Mr. Cuddington is 59 years old, and resides on Hillandale Drive with his wife Georgia. They have two sons. He was raised just outside of Fremont, but has been living in the city limits since he and his wife moved here in 1967. Mr. Cuddington is also a member of Fremont Free Will Baptist Church.

Leon Mooring filed to run for a second term as the alderman to represent District 2. He is 72 years old, and has lived in Fremont since 1983. Mr. Mooring is originally from Eureka. He is married to Evelyn “Ebbie” Mooring, and they have four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Mooring is retired from the Air Force, and he attends Fremont United Methodist Church. He is a member of the Eureka Ruritan Club, and volunteers with Meals on Wheels.

He said he decided to run for a second term because he would like to see the town through the work that has begun on the sewer system.

“I got interested in the sewer system, and I would like to help to continue to help the town in that manner, get the sewer bills down,” he said.

If District 3 representative W.T. Smith is reelected, he will finish out two decades of service on the town board. He has served on the board since 1991, and has lived in Fremont his entire 65 years. Mr. Smith and his wife Pat own Capital Café in Fremont. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Mr. Smith is a retired member of Fremont Rescue, and is a member of the Rotary Club. He too would like to serve another term to finish work on the sewer project.

“We’re trying to get the sewer fixed and come down on the sewer prices for everybody,” he said. “I just want to help with that, help the citizens of Fremont.”

Annie Lewis will be running for her first full term as the representative for District 6. Ms. Lewis was appointed to the position in 2005 after the passing of member Sylvester Artis.

Ms. Lewis is 68, and was married to Mr. O’Clee Lewis, who has passed. She has four children, and is a member of Hooks Grove Church in Pikeville. She works for a tobacco factory in Wilson.
She would like to be elected to the seat, she said, out of a desire to help her fellow citizens.

“I just hope I can make a difference,” she said.

Aldermen Billy Harvey and Leroy Ruffin are running for re-election in Districts 1 and 6, respectively. They could not be reached for comment before press time, but will be featured at a later date.

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