Decision time approaches for Mooresville voters

Mooresville is guaranteed at least one new face on the town’s municipal and school boards after Tuesday’s elections. But will voters opt for more change or prefer the status quo?

Thirteen candidates are vying for seven seats on Nov. 6 – four seats on the Mooresville Board of Commissioners and three on the Mooresville Graded School District Board of Education.

One seat on the MGSD board is guaranteed to a newcomer, since Barbara Johnson decided not to run for a second term.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6.

Voters who live in Ward 4 will have a new polling place this time – Peninsula Baptist Church at 687 Brawley School Road.

Voters who would still like to do vote early can do so today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday until 1 p.m. at the Iredell County Board of Elections office at 203 Stockton Street in Statesville. Early voting ends Saturday. For questions about polling places, call the Board of Elections at 704-878-3140.

Here’s a final peek at each race. For in-depth looks at each candidate, and video coverage of the recent town and school board forums, visit http://www.mooresvilletribune.com

Mayor(watch the forum videos here)
(2-year term)

Incumbent: Bill Thunberg
Mayor for one term
What he says: If reelected, he said, the board will continue to work on combating the mushrooming growth of the area by beefing up infrastructure, attracting more advanced manufacturing and commercial investments, and holding developers more accountable. All of these areas, he said, have improved considerably in the past two years.

Challenger: Larry Gregory
Owner of Gregory Financial Services in Statesville.
What he says: Previous boards have not planned for growth. He said he hopes to have more “controlled growth” if he is elected mayor, while at the same time keeping water rates and taxes low and serving as a “conservative voice” for his constituents.

At-Large Commissioner(watch the forum videos here)
(4-year term)

Incumbent: Danny Beaver
At-Large Commissioner for two terms.
What he says: If re-elected, he’ll continue to focus on quality of life, economic development, managing growth, and an affordable tax rate. Bringing in “new industries, new jobs, better salaries” are all important, as well as maintaining a place to live that is affordable.

Challenger: Miles Atkins
Manager of driver team relations for Infield Parking, a NASCAR Web site.
What he says: Sustainable development, water and sewer service and fees, and education are all crucial issues in Mooresville. Development should help “preserve what we have today for future generations,” carefully analyze water and sewer expenditures to properly plan for the future, and “invest in our children.”

Ward 1 Commissioner(watch the forum videos here)
(4-year term)

Incumbent: Mitch Abraham
Commissioner for one term.
What he says: If re-elected, he will continue to make keeping costs down a goal of the board, which he said the board has tried to do in the past four years. He’ll also continue to invest in the revitalization of the Mill Village, including the redevelopment of the former Burlington Mill, code enforcement, and supporting the area’s committees.

Challenger: Carla Fassbender
Lake Norman High School Spanish teacher
What she says: The town should carefully review the budget to closely monitor its expenditures and explore the possibility of outside grants. If elected, she would encourage residents of the Mill Village also need to take more responsibility for reporting crime and code enforcement violations and would try to attract more homeowners.

Ward 2 Commissioner (watch the forum videos here)
(4-year term)

Incumbent: Thurman Houston
Commissioner for partial term beginning June 2006, when he replaced Franklin Campbell on board.
What he says: If elected, he’ll try to make Mooresville a better place than it was when he began living here 55 years ago and try to keep it “simple and at home.” Infrastructure improvements, including to sidewalks, roads, and water and wastewater systems, will also be a big focus if he’s in office.

Challenger: Gary Lewis
Co-owner of a parking management and valet service
What he says: He will champion “open, honest, and actively involved government” if elected. In order to preserve the values important Mooresville and Ward 2—“family, community, vitality and prosperity”— he said, the town must make sure the residents needs are met with appropriate services and infrastructure.

MGSD Board of Education (watch the forum videos here)
(4-year terms)

Incumbent: Sue Wilson
Board member for two terms, 25 years as a teacher
What she says: The district needs to raise test scores, improve “methods of education,” and recruit diversified staff. It also needs to explore more options for funding than just the county and the state in order to combat growth.

Incumbent: Larry Wilson
Board member since 1997, scientist at Duke Energy
What he says: The district needs to make the MGSD the “best place” for teachers to work in order to keep them and combine taxpayer money with corporate sponsorship for projects. He said he makes decisions for the district based on what’s best for his own child.

Challenger: Mark McCulloh
Davidson College professor since 1982
What he says: Developers should be called on to donate land for future schools, the district should encourage corporate support, and “role models of various ethnic backgrounds” should be hired to teach. He said his experience in higher education could help MGSD students better prepare for college.

Challenger: Eddie Karriker
Mooresville High School clerical assistant
What he says: The district needs to look closer at class sizes in order to improve test scores and encourage community involvement in order to solve problems with diversity. It also needs to look at the reasons why teachers leave in order to prevent them from doing so.

Challenger: Roger Hyatt
Former MGSD assistant superintendent and educator.

What he says: The school board should address some of the biggest problems related to the region’s growth, including teacher resources and technology, and should focus on developing corporate relationships to maximize outside funding opportunities.

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Posted on 11/05/07 at 07:40 AM
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