Monday, April 28, 2025

Carolina Beach Mayor Joe Benson won’t run for second term, Leann Pierce announces mayoral campaign

Mayor Joe Benson was elected in 2017 and has said he does not plan to run for reelection this year, Councilwoman Leann Pierce says she will be running for the mayoral seat.

Mayor Joe Benson will not run for a second term, Leanne Pierce has announced her intention to run for his seat (Port City Daily/Courtesy Carolina Beach)
Mayor Joe Benson will not run for a second term, Leanne Pierce has announced her intention to run for his seat (Port City Daily/Courtesy Carolina Beach)

CAROLINA BEACH — The 2019 municipal election filing period has not yet opened but the Town of Carolina Beach has its first announcement for a new mayoral candidate. Councilwoman LeAnn Pierce announced she is running for Mayor of Carolina Beach on Monday morning through her Facebook page.

Pierce has served on the Town Council for several years and was elected in 2013 and served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2014.

According to her Carolina Beach bio, “LeAnn moved to Carolina Beach in 1990 and is the owner of Drifter’s Reef Hotel. She has served the Town of Carolina Beach on our Board of Adjustments, Vice-Chair of Planning and Zoning Commission, Business and Economic Development Committee, Arts and Activity Committee and New Hanover County’s Tourism Development Authority.”

Current Mayor Joe Benson was elected in 2017 and has stated he does not plan on running for reelection this year, instead, focusing on work as well as working on his second novel, he said.

Pierce was elected to Town Council in 2017 and has served only two years of her four-year term.

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