CHINA GROVE — In the town’s worst year for municipal turnout, voters elected a new mayor and a new councilman and re-elected a councilman to his second straight term.

Lee Withers, who has served on the town council since 2007, was elected to a four-year term as mayor with no opposition.

Steve Stroud, a local businessman, was re-elected to the town board for his second four-year term. Rodney Phillips, who works for Microsoft and serves on the town’s planning board, won his second term on the council. He previously served a single term in the 1990s.

Stroud received 124 votes, Phillips received 119 and Donnie Herring received 99.

Total voter turnout in the China Grove race was 7.6 percent, which is lower than any other municipal year for China Grove in Rowan County Board of Elections history.

When asked about the future of China Grove, Withers said town officials have to work to make southern Rowan one united community rather than multiple municipalities. He said the town also need to reinvest in itself.

Withers said one example of reinvestment is expanding and improving the town’s parks. He said the town has outgrown its current parks infrastructure. The town of China Grove owns property that could be used for future parks facilities.

China Grove also has to be cognizant of and plan around an Interstate 85 widening from four total lanes to eight, Withers said. Currently, I-85 narrows to four total lanes near China Grove. The town stands to see its current interstate interchange become a full exit and gain a second exit with the widening.

Withers will succeed current Mayor Don Bringle, who has served three terms in his current position.

When asked about receiving the most votes of any councilman, Stroud said he wanted to thanked voters who selected him. Stroud also congratulated Phillips and thanked Herring for running.

Stroud said the town’s future goals haven’t changed significantly.

“We’ve got to keep the town in strong financial order and keep progressing,” Stroud said. “We’ve got opportunities for growth coming up and have to do our best job to make sure growth happens.”

Philips couldn’t be reached Tuesday night after election results came in.

After the results came in, Herring said he likely wouldn’t run for town council in a future year. He also came close to making the town board in 2011.

Editor’s note: this article has been updated to state Phillips won his second term on the town council. 

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.