Ex-Orange mayor takes over Pinehurst

Photo: Dan Mohon, a former Orange mayor, was appointed mayor of Pinehurst Tuesday night and didn’t rule out running in May’s election to keep the office. RECORD Photo: Dave Rogers

Dan Mohon, a former two-term mayor of the City of Orange, is taking over as mayor of the City of Pinehurst.

City council members voted 3-0 to appoint Mohon, 79, to fill the spot previously held by Joseph L. “Pete” Runnels.

Runnels, 76, resigned effective Oct. 3 after serving two multiple-term stints as mayor.

Mohon had been serving as Pinehurst’s Mayor Pro-Tem and had filled in for an absent Runnels most of the summer.

Mohon was Orange mayor from 1988 to 1992.

“Well, Pinehurst may be a small city, but we try to make it the best we can,” Mohon said. “I feel honored the council appointed but I look forward to serving.”

The mayor’s office will be on the ballot in May’s city election.

Mohon didn’t rule out running for re-election.

“I told somebody ‘Let’s wait until we get there,’ but I would certainly consider it,” he said.

In other action Tuesday night, council voted to move its Senior Citizens Picnic from Labor Day to the second Saturday of November, beginning 2020.

“Labor Day is just too hot for seniors,” Robbie Hood, city administrator, said.

The city announced Saturday, Oct. 26 will be Kingdom Zoo Wildlife Day & Fall Festival, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park.

Mohon, in his fifth decade as a Lions Club member, announced the Lions Carnival was reset for Oct. 16-19 and Oct. 23-26 at Lions Den Park.