Meet the two Republicans running for Cumberland County at-large seats
This story has been updated to correct the number of candidates who have filed for the at-large seats.
The race for Cumberland County's two at-large commissioner seats up for election this year has drawn eight candidates: six Democrats and two Republicans.
Democrats running are incumbents Marshall Faircloth and Veronica Jones, former Council member Mario Benavente, former Commissioners Charles Evans and Toni Stewart and local educator William "Toonk" Wesley.
The top two Democrats in the March 3 primary will face Republicans Ron Ross and Greg West in the November general election.
Here's a look at the Republican candidates.
Democrats: Democratic field crowded in race for at-large seat on Cumberland County board
Ron Ross
Ross is a lifelong Cumberland County resident who lives in the Gray's Creek area and was director of local Boy & Girls Clubs for nearly 50 years, with 28 years in Lumberton and 28 years in Fayetteville.
He has previously run unsuccessfully for the Cumberland County Board of Education in 2016 and county commissioner in 2018 , 2020 , 2022 and 2024 .
"Why am I running? I think we need to be more open with our expenditures, we need to spend the taxpayers' money more wisely, and we need to listen to voters more," Ross told The Fayetteville Observer on Jan. 12. "It's as simple as that. My dad used to say, 'It's OK to talk, but don't forget to listen.'"
Ross said that in prior years, he's heard candidates talk about water in Gray's Creek that is affected by forever chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a substance used in manufacturing household products, industrial processes and firefighting foam that have been linked to adverse health outcomes.
"Every time they run, someone talks about the water, but they don't drink the water," Ross said.
He said a charcoal filtration system that was installed in his home had to be removed because he had an allergic reaction to the charcoal.
"I still have to shower in PFAS water," Ross said.
Ross said he thinks Commissioners Pavan Patel, Henry Tyson and Kirk deViere, who were newly elected to the board last year, "inherited a mess" when it comes to the Crown Event Center that originally broke ground in downtown off Gillespie Street.
Commissioners voted 5-2 in June to instead renovate the existing Crown Arena and Theater.
Ross said he is concerned money was wasted on the downtown space and said it would have cost less if commissioners had decided to renovate the existing space seven years ago.
For more information, visit ronrosscc.com .
Greg West
West is a lifelong Cumberland County resident who is a general contractor and realtor.
He has served on the Cumberland County Board of Education since 2002, for six terms, and served five times as the board's chair.
"I understand the importance of helping to make a community better," West told The Fayetteville Observer on Jan 12. "I'm not running against anything or anyone. I'm just running for a better Cumberland County, and I think having served in government, I understand how it works, and I'll make an effective county commissioner."
West said he also believes in strong schools, water and sewer infrastructure for Cumberland County, along with a strong workforce pipeline for kids who choose not to go to college after high school.
"And I definitely want to keep taxes as low as we can," he said.
For more information, visit votegregwest.com .
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Two Republicans running for Cumberland County Board of Commissioners
