By Elizabeth Cook
ecook@salisburypost.com
The campaign season traditionally gets under way after Labor Day, and many candidates already have public forums on their calendars.
This November, voters in cities and towns across the state will elect municipal leaders.
Salisbury City Council candidates will take the stage in Hedrick Little Theatre from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at a forum sponsored by the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and Catawba College and the Salisbury Post.
Dr. Michael Bitzer of Catawba College will moderate the discussion. Thirteen people have filed for the five seats on the council, which includes the mayor.
The Post is gathering questions that might be presented to the candidates . Send questions to Editor, Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. (Fax: 704-639-0003; e-mail: editor@ salisburypost.com)
All five seats on the City Council are up for election this year, and all incumbents except one ó Bill Burgin ó are seeking re-election.
Challengers are Charles Black, Maggie Blackwell, Carl Dangerfield, Blake Jarman, Benjamin Johnson, Brian Miller, William Peoples Jr., Wes Thompson and Michael Young.
Incumbents running again are Pete Kennedy, Susan Kluttz, Mark Lewis and Paul Woodson Jr.
The newly elected council members choose a mayor after they are sworn in.
The forum will be covered by the Post and broadcast on the local government access channel, Channel 16.
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At least three other towns have candidate forums planned:
– Spencer: The Spencer Business Association will host a forum for the Board of Aldermen’s 11 candidates 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Town Hall, 600 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer.
Up for election this year are the mayor’s seat and all six aldermen seats.
Jody Everhart faces a challenge from Jon Palmer for mayor. Nine people are competing for the six aldermen seats: challengers Tracy Aitken, Delaine Fowler, Jeff Kiker, Davis Smith and Reid Walters; and incumbents Scott Benfield, Donnie Hinson, Jeff Morris and C. E. Spear. (Incumbents Nick Bishop and Kenneth Womble are not seeking re-election.
– Rockwell: The Rockwell Community Association is incorporating a candidate forum in its monthly meeting, which is open to the public, on Sept. 21 at the Civic Center, 114 S. Cherry St., Rockwell. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with dinner ($7 at the door) and the forum follows from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There are six candidates for the five seats on the Board of Aldermen: challengers Timothy Crews and Erick Moore and incumbents Chuck Bowman, Tim Draper, Bill Ridenhour and Charles Wingerson. (Jeannie Misenheimer is not seeking re-election.)
Mayor Beau Taylor is running unopposed for re-election.
– China Grove: The China Grove Board of Trade will hold a forum as part of its luncheon meeting at noon on Oct. 5 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 326 N. Main Street, China Grove. Lunch is $7 at the door. The forum will be 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Candidates for the three seats up for election are Butch Bivens, Brandon Linn, Charles Seaford, Mike Upright.
If you’d like to pass along questions to be asked at the forums, send them to Editor, Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. (Fax: 704-639-0003; e-mail: editor@ salisburypost.com)
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Other municipal races this fall are:
– Cleveland: Aubrey H. Junker Jr. and John I. Steele Jr. are running for mayor. (Mayor James Brown Jr. is not seeking re-election.)
Six people are vying for three seats on the town’s Board of Commissioners: incumbents John O. Brown, Danny Gabriel and Pat Phifer; and challengers Travis Summitt, Leonard M. West and W. Preston Young.
– East Spencer: John Cowan and Barbara A. Mallett are running for mayor.
Six people are running for three seats on the town board: Rosa Burris, Tammy L. Corpening, Deloris V. High, Phronice M. Johnson, Titus H. King and John L. Rustin.
– Faith: Six people are running for the five seats on the Board of Aldermen. The mayor will be appointed. Running are challenger Keith Deal and incumbents Gary Gardner, Bill Johnson, Todd Peeler, Maxey Sanderson and Mark Shores.
– Granite Quarry: Brad Kluttz and Eloise Peeler are seeing re-election to the seats they currently hold.
– Kannapolis: Bill Nickolas Georgiou has challenged Bob Misenheimer as mayor.
Four people are running for three seats up for election this year: challenger Michael Mishkin and incumbents Randy E. Cauthen, Darrell Hinnant and Gene McCombs.
– Landis: Four people are running for the two seats up for election: challengers William P. Beaver and Charlene A. Nolt and incumbents James Furr and D. Craig Sloop.
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Rowan County’s proposed one-fourth percent increase in the sales tax will be on the ballot Nov. 3, also. If voters approve, the tax would go into effect next year.
Voting registration closes Oct. 9 and early voting starts Oct. 15.
Election Day is Nov. 3.