By Jessica Coates

jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY – The first day of filing for Rowan County municipal elections was a busy one.

Four people filed for Salisbury City Council on Friday; two people filed for Landis Board of Aldermen; two people filed for Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen; and one person filed for Kannapolis City Council.

Four people filed for mayoral seats in East Spencer, Granite Quarry, Kannapolis and Cleveland.

Filing for the 43 open municipal seats across the county began at noon at the Rowan County Board of Elections office, located inside the old Salisbury Mall in West End Plaza.

Arriving within the first five minutes were Salisbury City Councilman Kenny Hardin, Landis Alderman Dorland Abernathy, Salisbury council hopeful Latasha Wilks and East Spencer Mayor Barbara Mallett.

Over the course of the next five hours Friday – filing lasted until the Board of Elections office closed at 5 p.m. – nine more people came to declare their candidacies.

Candidates have until noon July 21 to file for any open seats.

The open seats are: three seats on the China Grove Town Council; three Cleveland commissioners seats; three seats on the East Spencer Board of Aldermen; five seats on the Faith Board of Aldermen; two seats on the Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen; three seats on the Kannapolis City Council; two seats on the Landis Board of Aldermen; five seats on the Rockwell Board of Aldermen; five seats on the Salisbury City Council; and six seats on the Spencer Board of Aldermen.

The position of mayor is also open in Cleveland, Kannapolis, Granite Quarry, East Spencer, Rockwell and Spencer.

Here’s who filed Friday:

Salisbury City Council

• Kenny Hardin has served one term on the council. He grew up in Salisbury and lives on Willow Avenue.

• Al Heggins is owner of the human relations firm Human Praxis Institute. This is her first time running for the council. She lives on Old West Innes Street.

• Latasha Wilks is a minister and founder of Let’s Lend a Helping Hand Inc. This is her first time running for the council. She lives on Pinehurst Street.

• Ryan Evans is a political science student at Livingstone College and a retired Army veteran. This is his first time running for the council. He lives on White Oak Circle.

Landis Board of Aldermen

• Dorland Abernathy is a retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg school teacher and has served one term on the Landis Board of Aldermen. He lives on Ryder Avenue.

• Roger Safrit served one term on the Landis board four years ago and ran again two years later but was not re-elected. He lives on North Main Street.

East Spencer Board of Aldermen

• Mayor Barbara Mallett is running for re-election. She has served three terms as mayor. She lives on Hall Street.

Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen

• Bill Feather is running for re-election as mayor. Should he be elected, this will be his third term as mayor. Feather lives on Kerns Street.

• Arin Wilhelm is seeking re-election. He lives on Stonewyck Drive.

• Michael Brinkley is running for re-election. He lives on Jack Avenue South.

Kannapolis

• Darrell Hinnant is running for re-election as mayor. He lives on Westview Street.

• George Wilson is running for City Council. He lives on Pendleton Drive.

Cleveland

• Danny Gabriel is running for mayor. When he ran in 2015, he ran unopposed. He lives on Bear Poplar Road.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.