It may seem as if we just wrapped up the 2018 midterm elections, but in less than a month municipalities across Rowan will officially kick off 2019 their 2019 races.

Filing for municipal elections starts noon July 5 and continues through noon July 9 at the Board of Elections at 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd, Suite D10 in West End Plaza. There’s an election in every municipality in Rowan, including a mayoral race in all except Kannapolis.

And while elections for president, Congress and governor often draw larger turnouts, it’s municipal races that have a more significant affect on daily life Rowan.

Consider, for example, those elected to the mayor and two aldermen seats in Landis will be faced with the task of ensuring the responsible spending of tax dollars paid by residents and property owners as well as an analysis of waters, sewer and electric rates about which residents have complained for decades and been particularly concerned about following embezzlement allegations.

In Spencer, the mayor and all six aldermen seats will be on the ballot. Following the turmoil related to former Town Manager Terrence Arrington’s departure, stability may be on the minds of voters. In Spencer, there are also questions about when roads will be paved and redevelopment of the Park Plaza area and downtown.

In Faith, candidates for mayor and aldermen may be faced with questions about how they plan to fight for the future of Faith Elementary School and/or whether they will help alternative plans through to completion.

In south Rowan, the Interstate 85 widening and construction of new interchanges is nearing completion. If all goes according to expectations, that means economic growth from Charlotte spilling into Rowan at rates not previously seen. And members of the town council in China Grove will need to train a sharp eye on future development and consider how they plan to handle it.

But issues don’t always drive turnout. Without competitive races on the ballot, enthusiasm can falter and result in turnout percentages in the single digits — something that hasn’t been entirely uncommon in recent years.

In 2017, the last municipal election, turnout was about 16 percent across the county. That’s not out of the ordinary, but it means that 84 percent of the people who were registered and eligible to vote chose not to.

So, here’s to hoping that the issues and opportunities facing Rowan County municipalities will produce competitive races and voters equally enthusiastic about improving the communities in which they live.