BY MILES LAYTON

COLUMBIA — As voters prepare for the November election, two women with deep ties to Columbia are vying to lead the small Tyrrell County town as its next mayor: Sandra Owens, a seasoned public official and longtime resident, and Helen Teresa Ayers, a newcomer to politics with a strong focus on community, health, and jobs.

The election comes after the passing of Mayor James Cahoon in January 2025, which led to Owens, then mayor pro tempore, being appointed to serve as interim mayor. Now, Owens is seeking a full term.

Owens brings nearly two decades of experience in municipal government. First elected as alderman in 2007, she was named mayor pro tem in 2017. With years of public service under her belt, Owens says her commitment to Columbia is deeply rooted in her love for her hometown.

“I was born and raised here,” Owens said. “There are so many things I hold dear to my heart. We have so much to offer — from our small-town atmosphere to our beautiful waterways like the Scuppernong River and the Albemarle Sound. Great hunting, great fishing, and just an hour from the Outer Banks — what a grand place to live!”

A 1970 graduate of Columbia High School, Owens is a taxidermist by trade. She’s not married and has one son, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter. In her bid for mayor, she’s focused on three central challenges: drainage and flooding, the loss of banking services, and the need to attract new businesses.

“Drainage and flooding have been ongoing issues for years, and we’re continuing to work on them,” Owens said. “Both of our banks closed, and now we only have a credit union that doesn’t serve businesses. That makes it even harder to bring new businesses into town.”

Despite those setbacks, Owens said the town remains proactive in inviting banks and business owners to consider Columbia. “We’re always welcoming and soliciting new businesses, but it is hard to entice a business when you don’t even have a bank. So we continue to invite banks to come here.”

Challenging Owens for the mayor’s seat is Helen Teresa Ayers, a Columbia native who graduated from Columbia High School in 1979 before earning a bachelor’s degree in education from East Carolina University. A single mother of seven children, Ayers works at Eagle Mart 2 in Columbia and is running for office for the first time.

While new to public service, Ayers said she’s no stranger to the everyday struggles residents face. Her platform centers on continuing efforts to address flooding, improving public health, and increasing access to local jobs — especially for residents who currently commute to the beach or other surrounding areas for work.

“Living in the 21st century brings new challenges to our health,” Ayers said. “That’s something we need to work on locally. Adding jobs is always top of the list — our people need local jobs. Many have to carpool to the beach area just to find work. So a positive attitude, jobs our health and flooding are things I would like to pursue.”

Ayers said she is drawn to Columbia’s small-town charm and sense of unity, and believes that preserving those qualities is key to building a stronger community. “The best parts of Columbia are its small size and close-knit people. There is always a kind word spoken, or a prayer said, and you may even get a hug. That positive attitude is a strong plus for attracting others and businesses.”

Both candidates agree that flooding remains a major concern for Columbia and that more work needs to be done. However, their approaches to solving the town’s broader economic and infrastructure issues differ.

Owens leans on her years of municipal experience, working within the constraints of limited resources and rural challenges to steadily improve conditions. Ayers, meanwhile, hopes that a fresh perspective can help address long-standing issues with new energy and new ideas, particularly in areas like public health and workforce development.

As Election Day approaches, residents will have the opportunity to weigh the value of experience versus new ideas — and decide who is best equipped to lead Columbia into the next chapter.

The mayoral election will be held in November.

Last note, Columbia Town Council candidates — 3 seats:

• W. Hal Fleming – Town Council 
• Lynda Mastronardo – Town Council
• Nancy Jean Lambert – Town Council
• Bryan Owens – Town Council

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