By Mark Wineka

Salisbury Post

Off-year municipal elections may not carry the intrigue and attention of a presidential year, such as the one coming up in 2008, but don't tell that to some local voters.

City and town issues arguably hit closer to home. Municipal voters Tuesday will be deciding things ranging from whether to allow the sale of alcoholic drinks to how to pay for water and sewer needs.

Municipal candidates themselves are literally the man or woman next door, around the corner or down the street. Often, they are much more familiar to voters than state and national candidates who flood the airwaves with 30-second sound bites.

Their decisions, once they are elected, are important in deciding crucial things such as tax rates, garbage collection, recreational opportunities, economic development, police and fire protection and street maintenance.

So a lot is at stake Tuesday when polls in Rowan County municipalities open at 6:30 a.m. and stay open until 7:30 p.m. Almost 70 candidates are on the ballot in nine Rowan County municipalities and the city of Kannapolis, which straddles Rowan and Cabarrus counties.

Salisbury

In Salisbury, it's a question of whether any of the five City Council incumbents, who have a combined 48 years of experience among them, will be unseated by challengers Robert Boone, Laura Lyerly or write-in candidate Bill Ward.

To crack the incumbents' hold on the council seats, Boone has spoken for district representation and the need for individual responsibility.

He said the council has tackled "a wall of social issues, but some will have to be solved by someone other than government."

Lyerly said the present council has done a good job, "but a new voice in there may not be a bad thing." She has emphasized the need for a cleaner, more attractive city, marketing of history and the arts, support of the downtown, promotion of community-based programs to support education and creating a healthy and walkable community.

Ward, whose name will not appear on the ballot, said he offers a "measured, open-minded, analytical and conservative approach to management and spending."

He has been the only candidate to suggest that the city pass ordinances to address the employment of illegal immigrants by the city and by privately owned businesses, which Ward said should pay stiff fines for each illegal person employed.

Ward also wants to make English the official language of Salisbury.

Meanwhile, the incumbents — Bill Burgin, William "Pete" Kennedy," Susan Kluttz, Mark Lewis and Paul Woodson — have built a record on issues such as diversity and inclusion, downtown development, growth planning, neighborhood revitalization, community policing, water-sewer expansions, park development and more.

Kluttz and Woodson have led the ticket for five consecutive elections, serving as mayor and mayor pro tem, respectively, over the past decade. Burgin also will be seeking a sixth term; Lewis, his third; and Kennedy, his eighth.

In Salisbury, voters choose five City Council members at large for two-year terms. The five elected choose a mayor and mayor pro tem among themselves.

China Grove

Voters in China Grove will pick a mayor, two aldermen, and decide on whether the town becomes the fifth Rowan County town to approve mixed beverages.

There's been no organized effort for or against the alcohol issue — no signs, advertising or other mainfestation.

In the mayor's race, alderman Allen Welter is trying to unseat Don Bringle who is seeking a second term.

Eight candidates are seeking to fill the two seats on the board of aldermen currently held by Harold Simpson and Troy Elliott. The candidates include two former aldermen, John G. Miller and Ron Overcash, and six others, Jimmie Higgins, Roger Hosey, William L. Jordan, Charles Seaford, Jim Whitley and Lee Withers.

Cleveland

Incumbent Mayor James A. Brown is unopposed in Cleveland.

For the town's Board of Commissioners, John C. Bradford, Mary Frank Fleming-Adkins and Max West are the candidates for two available seats.

Bradford and Fleming-Adkins are two-term incumbents.

Cleveland voters cast ballots at the Cleveland Elementary School's library.

East Spencer

Four candidates are on the ballot for mayor in East Spencer, including incumbent Erma Smith Jefferies.

Her challengers are Jimmie Daniel, Titus H. King Sr. and John L. Rustin Sr.

John Cowan and Tammy Corpening also have said they are running a write-in campaign for the spot.

Three seats are up for election on the East Spencer Board of Aldermen. Candidates are Carlton Ellis, Theodore Gladden, Deloris High, John G. Noble III and Robert A. Smith.

Ellis, High and Noble are the incumbents.

East Spencer voters cast ballots at the municipal building, 206 N. Long St.

Faith

In Faith there are five candidates for five seats.

The candidates are Gary Gardner, Bill Johnson, W. Todd Peeler, Maxey Sanderson and Mark Shores.

Granite Quarry

Three incumbents and one former alderman are vying to fill three available seats on the Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen.

The candidates are Mayor Mary Ponds, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Feather, Alderman Jake Fisher and former Aldermen Jim LaFevers.

LaFevers has one term on the board under his belt; he ran unsuccessfully for a second term in 2005.

Feather missed the election filing deadline, and his name will not appear on the ballot. However, he has organized a write-in campaign.

Ponds has been mayor since she was first elected to the board eight years ago.

Fisher has served as alderman for the past six years, and he also served three terms on the board in the 1970s.

Kannapolis

Six candidates are trying to win one of three seats available on Kannapolis City Council.

The candidates are Richard Anderson, David Baucom, Kenneth Geathers, Roger Haas, Jim Harkins and John K. Williams.

Anderson, Haas and Geathers are the incumbents.

In Rowan County, Kannapolis citizens cast ballots at St. John's United Church of Christ, 901 N. Main St., and at Jackson Park Elementary School.

Landis

Landis voters have major decisions to make on $4.5 million in water bonds and $2.2 million in wastewater bonds.

They will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on each issue.

Dennis Brown, a former alderman, is running unopposed for mayor.

Candidates for two seats available on the Board of Aldermen are William Beaver, Ernest Dean Beck, Tony Corriher, H.A. "Tony" Hilton, C.J. Nickelson, George Lee Pless and Roger D. Safrit.

Beaver and Pless are the incumbents.

Landis voters cast ballots at Corriher Lipe Middle School and the American Legion Building.

Rockwell

Incumbent Mayor Beau Taylor faces off against Alderman Ryan Walker in a contest for mayor in Rockwell.

Five seats on the Rockwell Board of Aldermen are up for election and the candidates are Chuck Bowman, Timothy Justin Crews, Tim Draper, Jeannie Misenheimer, Bill Ridenhour and Charles Wingerson.

Misenheimer, Ridenhour and Wingerson are incumbents.

Citizens cast ballots at Rockwell Elementary School.

Spencer

Jody Everhart is running unopposed for Spencer mayor, a position currently held by Alicia Bean, who is not seeking re-election.

Candidates who are on the ballot for six seats on the Spencer Board of Aldermen are Nick Bishop, Lawrence Bolen, Donnie Hinson, Jeff Morris, David Smith, C.E. Spear and Kenneth Wayne Womble.

Incumbents are Bishop, Spear and Womble.

Announced write-in candidates for the Board of Aldermen are Scott Benfield and Howard White.

Spencer residents vote at North Rowan High's lobby entrance.

Jessie Burchette, Shavonne Potts and Holly Lee contributed to this story. Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263, or mwineka@salisburypost. com.