ARCHDALE — The city of Archdale will soon be in search of a new mayor after Mayor Bert Lance-Stone announced last week at the city council meeting that she will be retiring at the end of June.
Lance-Stone said the time seemed ideal for her to make a transition after nearly three decades of service to the city.
“This is the end of the city’s fiscal year. We should have settled the budget, so it’s a good time for me to step away,” Lance-Stone said of her decision to retire in June. “I am honored and humbled that the citizens of Archdale have allowed me the privilege of serving them for the last few years, 28-plus, as a matter of fact.”
Councilman Roger Blackwell thanked Lance-Stone for her service, and the council, as well as each individual in attendance, gave her a standing ovation before she dismissed the meeting. Council members approached the mayor after the meeting to let her know how much they will miss her and to express their appreciation for the contributions she has made to the city.
“I leave Archdale in good hands, good shape,” Lance-Stone said. “We have a good council that works together. We have a trained and educated staff, a good manager, and I just think this is a perfect time for me to leave Archdale as it is. I appreciate all the support that the council and staff have given me.
“It’s been a wonderful opportunity for me, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. There have been a few moments that maybe I could have sidestepped, but by the grace of the good Lord, I was able to carry through.”
Lance-Stone said she does not plan to relocate and plans to follow the affairs of the city government closely. City Manager Zeb Holden said that no plan has been made to name a successor for Lance-Stone. Instead, the city will turn its attention to celebrating her time in office over the next two months. No immediate strategies for filling the seat were known as of press time.
According to state statute, a vacancy that occurs in an elective city office is to be filled by appointment of the city council. Any appointment would allow the person who fills the vacancy to serve until an elected successor takes office.
In cities where elections are conducted on a partisan basis, a person appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective office must be a member of the same political party as the person whom he or she replaces. In Archdale, council seats are non-partisan, so party affiliation is irrelevant.
In neighboring Trinity, a mayorol successor was appointed last year to fill the remainder of former mayor Jesse Hill’s unexpired term after he passed away while in office in 2019.
Lance-Stone has been recognized at various points by the city, county, region and by various civic clubs and organizations. She was the recipient of the Athena Award – presented to a businesswoman who makes significant contributions to her community and profession – at the 89th annual meeting of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce.
In serving the board of directors for the Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce, Lance-Stone has been an active participant in helping recruit businesses large and small to Archdale. Chamber President Beverly Nelson has frequently lauded the efforts of Lance-Stone.
Re-elected to a 10th term last year, Lance-Stone became the city’s first female mayor in 2000.