Mayor gets opposition; fifth school board candidate files

With the candidate filing period ending today at noon, the ballots for Mooresville’s town board and school board elections keep swelling.

Eleven people have signed up to vie for the seven available seats on the two boards. The latest additions are former Mooresville Graded School District Assistant Supt. Roger Hyatt, who filed Wednesday for one of three contested seats on the MGSD Board of Education, and Larry Gregory, who filed Thursday afternoon for Mooresville’s mayoral seat.

Gregory could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Hyatt, a 20-year veteran of the district who most recently served as its interim superintendent during the search to replace Supt. Bruce Boyles, said his familiarity with both the district and the community as a whole make him a good candidate.

“I’ve been a principal, worked at the alternative school, and worked at the Central Office,” he said. “I think I understand how school systems work from the inside out.”

Hyatt said that he has been both a taxpayer in the district and a parent; his children attended the MGSD. As a result, he said, he has something of a vested interest in the school system, which he sees as one with a “changing dynamic.”

“This is not the same Mooresville that I came to in 1983,” he said. “I feel like it’s an opportune time to give something back….I think, if elected, I can contribute to the ongoing success of this district.”

In addition to Hyatt, incumbents Sue Wilson and Larry Wilson and two challengers—Davidson College professor Mark McCulloh and Mooresville High guidance counselor Eddie Karriker—have filed.
Board member Barbara Johnson has said she will not seek re-election.

Board of Education terms are for four years and do not require a primary. Those who choose to run for seats will join candidates on the municipal ballot on Nov. 6.

Besides Gregory, one other newcomer has filed to run against any of the four incumbents vying for a town board seat. Lake Norman High School Spanish teacher Carla Fassbender earlier filed to compete against incumbent Mitch Abraham for the Ward 1 seat.

The other three town incumbents up for election this year have also all filed: Thurman Houston (Ward 2), Danny Beaver (at-large) and Mayor Bill Thunberg.

The mayoral seat is a two-year term. All commissioner seats are for four years. If a primary is necessary for the non-partisan races, it will take place on Oct. 9.

Candidates who wish to be placed on the ballot for one of the area’s municipal elections must file their application, in person, at the Iredell County Board of Elections office at 203 Stockton Street in Statesville by noon today.

The cost is $10 to file for the MGSD and $5 to file for the Mooresville town board. For more information on this year’s elections, contact the Iredell County Board of Elections at 704-878-3140.

Posted on 07/20/07 at 07:49 AM
Mooresville •Mayor •Mooresville Graded School District •Town Council • (0) Comments

You must be logged in to post comments. Please Log in or register.