The town of Vass came up short when the municipal filing period ended in July.

Two of three seats on the Vass Town Board of Commissioners may be filled by a flurry of write-in voters at the polls on Nov. 8.

Matthew Callahan, a land surveyor and member of the town’s Planning Board, said he is willing to fill one of three seats on the Town Board, provided voters write his name on the ballot on election day.

Incumbent Town Commissioner George Blackwell is also likely to serve another term if elected by write-in vote on the Nov. 8 ballot.

When the filing period ended, Vass had only two candidates. Mayor Eddie Callahan and Town Commissioner Donald W. Bridgers both filed for re-election.

Two commissioners whose terms expire this year did not make it to the Moore County Board of Elections office during the filing period.

Blackwell was hospitalized during the filing period and was unable to travel to the elections office before the deadline.

He was not at home when The Pilot called for comment, but his wife, Delores, said he is fully recovered and able to serve another term.

She said her husband will serve if the needed write-in votes are cast.

“He loves the town of Vass,” she said of her husband, who formerly served as mayor.

Commissioner Paulette Elliott said she has enjoyed serving the town but cannot commit to another four-year term as a commissioner.

“When I commit to something, I really commit myself,” she said. “I don’t bail out.”

Elliott said she is pleased that the town is finally getting the badly needed upgrade to the sewer system. It’s something she has vigorously promoted, and now that the improvement is nearing reality, she said she feels a satisfying sense of completion.

When elected four years ago, Elliott was assigned the duties of commissioner of water and sewer.

The main need was improvement of the outdated sewer plant, a factor standing in the way of town development.

“I feel good about it now,” said Elliot, a Progress Energy retiree.

Matthew Callahan said he is new to the election process and is not an official write-in candidate. However, he said he will serve if his name is added to the Vass ballot.

“I was born and raised in Vass, and I’d like to see it become a better place,” he said. “I want to make sure Vass remains a good place to live and to raise your children.”

Callahan said his experience as a Planning Board member has opened his eyes to several issues that need attention by the Town Board.

“I want to do my part for Vass,” Callahan said.

Vass is served by a mayor and a five-member board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected on a staggered basis.

The remaining commissioners are Margaret C. Cirone and Rora M. Kellis, who have two more years to serve. All serve four-year terms.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.