John Cashion made history Friday on the first day of the municipal filing period.

Cashion filed for the Pinehurst Village Council, becoming the first Pinewild resident to get on the ballot. He was one of four candidates who filed in the first half-hour after the filing period opened at noon at the Board of Elections office in Carthage.

"It's nice for Pinewild to be represented (on the ballot)," Cashion said. "But I want to represent all of Pinehurst."

"I thought about it for a while, even before the annexation, because I think I have a lot to offer."

Pinehurst officially annexed Pinewild Country Club in March 2010, ending a sometimes bitter and lengthy legal battle. This is the first year that Pinewild residents are eligible to run for council.

Another candidate, John Strickland, filed for Village Council.

Two candidates filed in Carthage. Town Commis-sioner Lee McGraw filed for mayor, and former Moore County Clerk of Court Catherine Graham filed for the town board.

"I wanted to go ahead and get my name out there," McGraw said.

Graham, a supporter of McGraw, said she made the decision to run for the town board of commissioners when she arrived at the Board of Elections office to support McGraw.

"When I got here today, I had plenty of encouragement from my friends and supporters and I just felt like it was the right thing to do," said Graham, who served as Clerk of Court for 15 years, leaving the post in 2009.

Both McGraw and Graham received support from current Carthage Commissioners Milton T. Dowdy, Lisa Caddell, Artie Barber and Mayor Tom Stewart.

Stewart is not seeking re-election, and Caddell will be ineligible to run because she and her husband, County Commissioner Larry Caddell, have moved outside the town limits.

"This is a bittersweet day for me," Lisa Caddell said. "I love Carthage, and it has been my honor and privilege to serve my community."

McGraw said having the support of the other board members was a key factor in his decision to run for mayor.

"I want to continue to do good things for the town," he said. ""I want to see it continue to grow and prosper."

Also on Friday, Nancy Roy Fiorillo made good on her promise to file early for mayor of Pinehurst. Fiorillo had a large contingent of supporters who brought red, white and blue balloons and carried hand-held campaign fans.

Current Pinehurst Mayor Ginsey Fallon has said she will not run for mayor this election but will run for the council. After being elected to council in 2007, Fallon was appointed mayor in March 2010 after the death of George Lane.

Fallon's vacant seat, which is up for election this November, was filled by Mark Parson. That seat, along with one currently held by Joan Thurman, is also up for grabs.

Jerry O. Williams also filed for Pinebluff town commissioner. Also, incumbent Whispering Pines council member Robert "Skip" Gebhardt filed for re-election.

Moore County Elections Director Glenda Clendenin said she expected fewer than normal filings on Friday because of the long Fourth of July weekend.

"I think Tuesday or Wednesday we might have some more interest," she said.

The filing period runs through noon July 15.