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SPENCER — Incumbents in Spencer aren’t running for their seats unopposed this election. While every member of the seven-member Board of Aldermen is gunning for re-election, two challengers have also appeared.

Sharon Hovis and Rashid Hakim Muhammad filed this summer to fight for a two-year term.

Hovis, who works as the East Spencer chief of police, is a native of Spencer. Hovis did not respond to interview requests for this article.

Also, repeated efforts by a Post reporter to contact Muhammad since he filed in July have been unsuccessful.

Mayor Jim Gobbel is the only candidate who filed to run for town mayor.

For the incumbents running for re-election, the future of the town comes down to a few major projects: Park Plaza — a vast, empty shopping center in downtown Spencer — and a focus on bringing industry and jobs into the town.

Park Plaza  and its empty storefronts have been the source of debate for several years. While all candidates who interviewed agreed that something should be done with the shopping center, answers varied on what the solution could be.

Incumbents said they were in favor of trying to move the Spencer Police Department and municipal offices into a portion of the plaza. They said they hoped the nearby presence of police and use of the building would attract other businesses.

However, a few went a bit further.

Howard White suggested that the town act as an intermediary between the property owner and potential businesses to see if anything could be done to make the property more appealing — such as negotiating lowered rental rates, or taking other steps.

David Smith said that, specifically, he’d like to see a drug store take up residence in the plaza, to replace the Walgreens the town lost recently.

David Lammano said he’d like to see a little of the property’s color returned by converting the parking lot section closest to Salisbury Avenue into a strip of green space.

Candidates also gave their opinion on what could be done to bring industry and jobs to the town. Most referred to current initiatives. Lammano said he thought the board’s move to convince property owners on Long Ferry Road was a step in the right direction in making the town attractive to developers. Others, however, such as Smith, pointed out that the town has limited land and space, so it should be selective in choosing businesses and focus on longevity.

The majority of the candidates believed that the issue lay — in part — in the town’s image. White argued that the board and the town should work to erase negative perceptions.

Kevin Jones said Spencer has a lot going for it with a good location and easy access to the interstate — all it needed was a bit of marketing. Other candidates, too, agreed that the much of the issue lay in the town’s image and a lack of proper marketing.

Spencer residents can vote early at the Rowan County Board of Elections at West End Plaza between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Early voting ends Nov. 4.