Mitch Colvin announced June 12 that he will not seek reelection for mayor in November.
Colvin was first elected in 2017, and said serving was "the honor of his life." He said he plans on spending more time with his family.
"As I look to the future, I plan to continue working to make Fayetteville a better place by contributing to the community, but I’m also looking forward to spending time with my family and working in my business," Colvin said.
Colvin served on the Fayetteville City Council from 2013-2017. In 2017, he was elected as mayor, and has been the longest serving Black mayor in Fayetteville history.
During his tenure, Colvin focused on job creation and economic development, advocating for an Amazon distribution center to be brought to the area. He helped to establish the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub.
“Fayetteville has undergone remarkable transformation in recent years, and now is the time to boldly shape the next chapter of our city’s future,” said Mayor Colvin at a speech on June 10.
“By working together, we can harness our momentum, build on our unique strengths, and seize the opportunities that will define the future of our growing, dynamic community.”
Filing for municipal elections officially begins July 7. Currently, four people have announced their intention to run for the mayor position: Businessman and veteran Freddie de la Cruz; former City Council member Paul Williams; current City Council member representing District 3 Mario Benavente; and current Mayor Pro Tem and five time City Council member representing District 1 Kathy Jensen.
Up & Coming Weekly will be updating our readers regarding the Fayetteville Mayoral race, as well as other municipal elections, in the coming months.