In her first bid for elected office, Spencer resident Sylvia Chillcott says she hopes to make a positive difference and be a voice for smart growth.

Chillcott, 58, is retired. She most recently worked as a part-time code enforcement officer for Spencer. She is the only female candidate for the Town of Spencer Board of Aldermen.

If elected, Chillcott said she would encourage recruitment of niche retail and specialty shops in downtown Spencer. Among other items, Chillcott said she hopes to work on improving the quality of life by focusing on neglected properties, absentee landlords, transient residents and crime rates. Recruiting industry to Spencer’s northern limits and working with a cohesive town board are also topics she mentioned.

She is a graduate of Salisbury High School and Catawba College, where she received a degree in sociology.

Chillcott is a member of Spencer Presbyterian Church, where she serves as an elder, lector and Bible studies teacher. She volunteers for Rowan Helping Ministries and Meals on Wheels. She is also a member of the Spencer Woman’s Club.

She is married, has three children and three grandchildren.