20 candidates emerge for Cumberland County town boards on first ...

Stephon Ferguson is a lifelong resident of Fayetteville. He holds undergraduate degrees in communications, theater, and film from Fayetteville State University and Georgia State University, and a master’s and a doctoral degree in theology and philosophy from Morehouse School of Religion. He is an associate minister at New Life Bible Church in Fayetteville and the chair of New Life Christian Academy’s Board of Trustees.

Stephon Ferguson (Fayetteville City Council District 1, North ...

Stephon is a communications and broadcasting professional. He worked in radio at WLRD 107.7 and WFNC. He also served as a medical non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the U.S. Army.

Stephon previously ran for a seat on the Cumberland County Board of Education in 2006 but did not win.

Supports building a skilled workforce and providing resources for businesses.

- Supports building a skilled workforce and providing resources for businesses.

Economy

Supports investing in parks and recreation centers and local festivals, arts, and cultural activities.

Plans to enhance quality of life by improving green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities, and by listening to residents' concerns through town hall meetings.

- Supports investing in parks and recreation centers and local festivals, arts, and cultural activities.
- Plans to enhance quality of life by improving green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities, and by listening to residents' concerns through town hall meetings.

Public Services

Supports investing in and revitalizing existing neighborhoods to attract residents and businesses.

Supports investing in affordable housing and improving transportation networks to boost economic activity and job creation.

Supports investing in affordable housing.

- Supports investing in and revitalizing existing neighborhoods to attract residents and businesses.
- Supports investing in affordable housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports the police chief's crime-fighting plan and community engagement in public safety.

Believes community collaboration with law enforcement is essential to combat crime effectively.

- Supports the police chief's crime-fighting plan and community engagement in public safety.
- Believes community collaboration with law enforcement is essential to combat crime effectively.

Public Safety

Plans to improve the city's transportation networks and overall connectivity by evaluating and expanding transportation options.

- Plans to improve the city's transportation networks and overall connectivity by evaluating and expanding transportation options.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of September 15, 2025, Stephon Ferguson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

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Stephon Ferguson

Stephon Ferguson is a lifelong resident of Fayetteville, graduating from 71st High School in 1986. He holds undergraduate degrees in communications, theater, and film from Fayetteville State University and Georgia State University, and a master’s and a doctoral degree in theology and philosophy from Morehouse School of Religion. He is an associate minister at New Life Bible Church in Fayetteville and the chair of New Life Christian Academy’s Board of Trustees.

Stephon is a communications and broadcasting professional. He worked in radio at WLRD 107.7 and WFNC. He also served as a medical NCO in the U.S. Army.

Stephon's campaign for Fayetteville City Council Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics. He previously ran for a seat on the Cumberland County Board of Education in 2006 but did not win.

Stephon is a communications and broadcasting professional. He worked in radio at WLRD 107.7 and WFNC. He is also a voice actor and serves as an associate minister at New Life Bible Church in Fayetteville.

Stephon's campaign for Fayetteville City Council Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics. He previously ran for a seat on the Cumberland County Board of Education in 2006 and for Atlanta City Council in 2017 but did not win.

Supports affordable housing and improving transportation networks to boost economic activity.

Supports strengthening and establishing community and neighborhood watch programs.

Supports community engagement, neighborhood watch programs, and local safety initiatives to enhance public safety.

Supports continuous building of a skilled workforce through education and training.

Stephon Ferguson is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He holds undergraduate degrees from Fayetteville State University and Georgia State University and a graduate degree in theology and philosophy from the Morehouse School of Religion. He is an associate minister at New Life Bible Church in Fayetteville.

Stephon is a communications professional. He also works as a voice actor, known for recreating the voice of Martin Luther King Jr.

Supports strengthening and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Plans to enhance green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities.

Supports affordable housing and home ownership programs.

Supports the police chief's plan and ensuring he has the necessary tools to combat crime.

Believes addressing crime requires community collaboration with local law enforcement, despite saying "more police officers is not the answer."

Plans to ensure that streets, sidewalks, and other infrastructure are safe and well-maintained.

As of September 15, 2025, Stephon Ferguson did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

James L. Thomas III is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in information technology from North Carolina A&T State University and is pursuing a master’s degree in project management at Wake Forest University.

James L. Thomas III (Fayetteville City Council District 1, North ...

James L. Thomas III's campaign for Fayetteville City Council Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics. 

Supports prioritizing local and minority-owned businesses with proven track records in the contractor selection process.

- Supports prioritizing local and minority-owned businesses with proven track records in the contractor selection process.

As a city council member, plans to collaborate with Parks and Recreation to expand recreation center hours and programming to include late-night and weekend youth events.

Supports a permanent Digital Navigator program to help residents with tech skills and internet access.

Supports public Wi-Fi in parks, rec centers, and high-density housing, and expanding digital literacy through partnerships with FSU, FTCC, and the library.

Supports increasing visibility and support for community outreach workers.

Supports creating a Youth Advisory Roundtable to provide leadership training and civic engagement experience for young people.

Advocates for more trails, parks, and green spaces that connect homes, schools, and shops.

- As a city council member, plans to collaborate with Parks and Recreation to expand recreation center hours and programming to include late-night and weekend youth events.
- Supports a permanent Digital Navigator program to help residents with tech skills and internet access.
- Supports public Wi-Fi in parks, rec centers, and high-density housing, and expanding digital literacy through partnerships with FSU, FTCC, and the library.
- Supports increasing visibility and support for community outreach workers.
- Supports creating a Youth Advisory Roundtable to provide leadership training and civic engagement experience for young people.
- Advocates for more trails, parks, and green spaces that connect homes, schools, and shops.

Supports affordable housing with wraparound services like mental health care, job support, and youth programs.

Supports converting vacant buildings into homes, expanding home repair grants, and supporting first-time buyers and rent-to-own models.

- Supports affordable housing with wraparound services like mental health care, job support, and youth programs.
- Supports converting vacant buildings into homes, expanding home repair grants, and supporting first-time buyers and rent-to-own models.

Advocated for a Civilian Review Board with investigative authority to ensure transparency and accountability in policing.

Advocated for the public release of the "Brady list," which documents officers with known credibility issues, to ensure transparency in law enforcement.

Supports strengthening city programs like Operation Ceasefire and PROOVE by advocating for youth involvement, trauma-informed practices, and mentorship integration.

- Advocated for a Civilian Review Board with investigative authority to ensure transparency and accountability in policing.
- Advocated for the public release of the "Brady list," which documents officers with known credibility issues, to ensure transparency in law enforcement.
- Supports strengthening city programs like Operation Ceasefire and PROOVE by advocating for youth involvement, trauma-informed practices, and mentorship integration.

Plans to prioritize sidewalk repairs, new lighting, road fixes, and stoplights in neglected areas.

Supports improving hiring, oversight, and vetting processes for contractors and project managers.

Advocates for stoplights in high-risk areas, smart streetlights in dark zones, and calming traffic measures like speed humps.

Plans to create a public-facing dashboard for residents to see real-time updates on infrastructure projects in District 1.

- Plans to prioritize sidewalk repairs, new lighting, road fixes, and stoplights in neglected areas.
- Supports improving hiring, oversight, and vetting processes for contractors and project managers.
- Advocates for stoplights in high-risk areas, smart streetlights in dark zones, and calming traffic measures like speed humps.
- Plans to create a public-facing dashboard for residents to see real-time updates on infrastructure projects in District 1.

Supports bringing services like tutoring, tech labs, and mental health support to or near schools, and opening school spaces for after-school programs.

- Supports bringing services like tutoring, tech labs, and mental health support to or near schools, and opening school spaces for after-school programs.

James L. Thomas III

James L. Thomas III is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He attended Howard Hall Elementary, Pine Forest Middle School, and Pine Forest High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in information technology from North Carolina A&T State University and is pursuing a master’s degree in project management at Wake Forest University.

As a city council member, helped design a civilian oversight model with a Citizens Review Board and Civilian Police Oversight Authority, approved in 2021.

Here's who could replace Kathy Jensen on Fayetteville City Council

Jamie Davis is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master of business administration from Fayetteville State University. He lives in Fayetteville.

Jamie Davis's campaign for Fayetteville City Council Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics.

As of September 15, 2025, Jamie Davis did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to advocate for the needs of veterans and senior citizens.

- Wants to advocate for the needs of veterans and senior citizens.

Jamie Davis

Theodore is the owner and operator of Silver Knight PCs, a computer store in Fayetteville. He previously served as an IT and networking specialist with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command from 2013 to 2019.

Theodore Melkoumov (Fayetteville City Council District 1, North ...

Theodore Melkoumov's campaign for Fayetteville City Council Member, District 1 is his first entry into politics. 

Believes addressing economic challenges is crucial due to the recent sharp increase in cost-of-living.

- Believes addressing economic challenges is crucial due to the recent sharp increase in cost-of-living.

Observer

Opposes youth curfews, believing they are ineffective and a waste of resources.

Opposes youth curfews, believing they are ineffective and a waste of resources. Proposes having things for them to do and places to hang out. 

- Opposes youth curfews, believing they are ineffective and a waste of resources. Proposes having things for them to do and places to hang out. 

As of September 15, 2025, Theodore Melkoumov did not have a website or any information online.

Hopes to use his IT background to improve the city’s infrastructure, including developing innovative ways to tackle issues like flooding.

- Hopes to use his IT background to improve the city’s infrastructure, including developing innovative ways to tackle issues like flooding.

Theodore Melkoumov

Hopes to use his IT background to improve the city 

Melkoumov moved to Fayetteville in 2013 to join the Army. He served as an IT and networking specialist with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command from 2013 to 2019. After finishing his military career, Melkoumov decided to stay in Fayetteville and start a small business. He is the owner and operator of Silver Knight PCs, a computer store in Fayetteville.

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 