MONROE – The Union County Board of Elections released the official roster of candidates for the 2019 election on July 19, showing several competitive races.
Marshville, Marvin, Waxhaw and Wingate are guaranteed to get new mayors, while Indian Trail, Monroe, Weddington and Wesley Chapel’s incumbents will face competition. Town board races in Indian Trail, Marshville and Monroe will be especially competitive.
Here’s a town-by-town look at the ballot:
Fairview
• Mayor: Phillip Thomas
• Council (2 seats): John Biggers Jr. & Gary Wilfong
Mayor Phillip Thomas, as well as councilmen John Biggers Jr. and Gary Wilfong are running unopposed.
Hemby Bridge
• Alderman (3 seats): Chris Baker, Kim Belk & Dennis Dorton
Chris Baker, Kim Belk & Dennis Dorton are running unopposed for reelection as aldermen. Dorton was appointed to the board in March to replace Johnny Lemmond. Belk was appointed to the board in May to replace Gary Anderson.
Indian Trail
• Mayor: Michael Alvarez, Michael Faulkenberry & David Loughran
• Council (3 seats): Jonathon Baer, Todd Barber, Amanda Faulkenberry, Shirley Howe, Roger Kortekaas & Marcus McIntyre
Mayor Michael Alvarez is running for reelection, but he’ll have to fend off challengers Michael Faulkenberry and David Loughran. Marcus McIntyre, who was appointed to the council in February 2018, and Shirley Howe are seeking reelection, while Mayor Pro Tem David Cohn has decided to ride off into the sunset. Jonathon Baer, Todd Barber, Amanda Faulkenberry and Roger Kortekaas are vying for the three council seats.
Lake Park
• Mayor: David Cleveland
• Council (3 seats): Bruce Barton, Russell Flagg, Jeremy Russell & Joe Scaldara
• Council (unexpired term): Pam Jack
Three new faces will join the village council as John Barnes, James Record and Fabian Szarko are not running for reelection. Bruce Barton, Russell Flagg, Jeremy Russell and Joe Scaldara are vying for three four-year terms. Councilwoman Pam Jack is seeking reelection, but she’s running for what’s left of Kristen Bowman’s term, which expires in December 2021. Bowman resigned from the council in May. Mayor David Cleveland is running unopposed for reelection.
Marshville
• Mayor: Larry Smith Jr.
• Town Council (3 seats): Paulette Blakeney, Margaret Bivens, Nancie Mandeville, Jim Rowell & Ernestine Staton
Barring write-in votes, Mayor Larry Smith Jr. will succeed Franklin Deese as mayor. Town council seats held by Margaret Bivens, Norman Carpenter and Ernestine Staton are up for grabs. Bivens and Staton are running for reelection. Challengers Paulette Blakeney, Nancie Mandeville and Jim Rowell are campaigning to join the council.
Marvin
• Mayor: Christopher Smith
• Village Council (2 seats): Jamie Lein & Bob Marcolese
Barring write-in votes, Christopher Smith will succeed Joe Pollino Jr. as mayor, while Jamie Lein and Bob Marcolese will take over seats held by Nick Dispenziere and Mary Shkut.
Mineral Springs
• Mayor: Frederick (Rick) Becker III
• Town Council (3 seats): Charles Bowden, Valerie Coffey, Lundeen Cureon & Peggy Neill
Challenger Charles Bowden hopes to unseat one of the three town councilwomen running for reelection: Valerie Coffey, Lundeen Cureon and Peggy Neill. Mayor Frederick (Rick) Becker III is running unopposed.
Monroe
• Mayor: Brent Anthony, Bobby Kilgore & Bob Yanacsek
• City Council (3 seats): Gary Anderson, Tony Autry, Freddie Gordon, Angelia James, Billy Jordan, Lynn Keziah, Michele King & Myles Kuly
Mayor Bobby Kilgore must fend off challengers Brent Anthony and Bob Yanacsek to win reelection. City councilmen Gary Anderson, Billy Jordan and Lynn Keziah are seeking re-election. They are running against challengers Tony Autry, Freddie Gordon, Angelia James, Michele King and Myles Kuly.
Stallings
• Town Council District 4 (1 seat): Heather Grooms & Shawna Steele
• Town Council District 5 (1 seat): Steven Ayers & Billy Birt Jr.
Kathy Heyse resigned from the District 5 town council seat in February. Stallings Town Council appointed Billy Birt Jr. in June to serve the remainder of that term. Birt is running to keep the seat, but he’s being challenged by Steven Ayers. Shawna Steele is running for reelection to the District 4 town council seat, but she must defeat challenger Heather Grooms.
Unionville
• Town Commission (3 seats): Jeffrey Broadaway, Gene Price & Jaren Simpson
Town commissioner seats held Edd Little, Gene Price and Jaren Simpson were up for grabs this cycle. Price and Simpson are running for reelection, while Jeffrey Broadaway is the only other person to run.
Waxhaw
• Mayor: Edwin Elam, Ericka McKnight, Bob Morgan, Ronald Pappas & Jon Perdue
• Town Commission (2 seats): Brenda Burns, Pedro Morey & Anne Simpson
Mayor Stephen Maher has chosen not to run for reelection, opening the door for one of five challengers: Edwin Elam, Ericka McKnight, Bob Morgan, Ronald Pappas and Jon Perdue. Two seats are available on the commission. Brenda Burns is seeking reelection, while Fred Burrell resigned from the board in April. Challengers Pedro Morey and Anne Simpson are running for those two commission seats.
Weddington
• Mayor: Elizabeth Callis & Walter Hogan
• Town Council District 2 (1 seat): Scott Buzzard & Anne Pruitt
• Town Council District 4 (1 seat): Gerry Hartman & Janice Propst
Mayor Elizabeth Callis is seeking a second term. She’ll be challenged by Walter Hogan. Councilman Scott Buzzard is running against Anne Pruitt for the District 2 seat. Councilwoman Janice Propst is running against Gerry Hartman for the District 4 seat.
Wesley Chapel
• Village Mayor: Brad Horvath & Jan Smith
• Village Council (2 seats): Lori Bailey, David Boyce, April Campagna & Paul Kaperonis
Mayor Brad Horvath is running again, this time against challenger Jan Smith. At least one new face will join the council as William Rodriguez is not running. Councilman Paul Kaperonis, as well as challengers Lori Bailey, David Boyce and April Campagna are vying for two available seats.
Wingate
• Mayor: Gary Hamill
• Town Commission (3 seats): Bart Farmer, John Lowery, John Mangum & Max Wolfe III
Mayor Bill Braswell will not seek reelection. Commissioner Gary Hamill is stepping up to succeed Braswell. Hamill is running unopposed. Three seats are available on the commission, including one held by Peggy Taylor, who is not running again. Challengers Bart Farmer and Max Wolfe III square off against incumbents John Lowery and John Mangum for those three seats.