Tuesday is Election Day. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Here is a rundown on the race for Charlotte mayor. For full coverage of Tuesday's election, head to www.charlotteobserver.com/vote.

Anthony Foxx, Democrat

Anthony Foxx, elected Charlotte mayor in 2009, is campaigning on strengthening ties to Raleigh and in improving the city economy.

The Democrat said he has worked to diversify the economy, and that there have been announcements of 14,000 new jobs since he took office. It's debatable how much impact a part-time mayor has on job creation, but the city's unemployment rate dropped from 10 percent when Foxx took office to 9.2 percent in September. He also touts his role in bringing the Democratic National Convention to Charlotte. - STEVE HARRISON

WHERE HE STANDS

The budget

Lobbied for a "revenue-neutral budget" this year. That budget lowered the property tax rate, but raised the same amount of money as the year before because the value of property increased.

Governance

Wants to combine city and county government, with the school board spun off separately. Also lobbied City Council to fund some programs that aren't city responsibilities, such as public libraries.

Transit

Supports extending the light-rail line to UNC Charlotte and also to build a streetcar line. Helped secure a $25 million grant for a 1.5-mile streetcar line.

Economy

Supports diversifying the city's economy.

FOXX AT A GLANCE

Age: 40.

Birthplace: Charlotte.

Family: Wife, Samara; son and daughter.

Education: BA degree in history, Davidson College, 1993; law degree, New York School of Law, 1996.

Politics: Student body president, Davidson College, 1992; elected Charlotte City Council at-large, 2005; elected mayor, 2009

Church: Friendship Missionary Baptist.

Leisure pursuit: Jogging.

Most admired leader: Martin Luther King Jr.

Scott Stone, Republican

Scott Stone is undaunted by polls, money or conventional wisdom.

The Republican is confident that he can make Democrat Anthony Foxx the first incumbent mayor in 24 years to lose re-election.

Optimism is a hallmark of the man making his second run for office, and first since moving to Charlotte in 1999.

An engineer, he has waged an aggressive campaign as a small government conservative.

But in addition to history, he's running against an incumbent who has out-raised him 6-1. - JIM MORRILL

WHERE HE STANDS

The budget

Would cut $72 million in city spending, the amount by which he says the general fund budget has grown since 2007.

Says cuts could come by privatizing more services and reducing debt payments by unloading city assets.

Critics say cutting that much would cripple police and fire. He says he would protect public safety.

Selling property

Would raise money by selling Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles' Arena. Also would sell police and fire stations as well as the government center and lease them back.

The streetcar

Says it "must be stopped in its tracks..."

Light rail

Has criticized planned extensions, says city should wait for an improving economy to lift existing transit sales tax revenues.

STONE AT A GLANCE

Age: 43.

Birthplace: Malone, N.Y.

Family: Wife, Molly; two daughters.

Education: B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson University, 1990; MBA from Marymount University, 1997.

Politics: Lost race for county board in Virginia,1996; served as treasurer of the Mecklenburg County Republican Party.

Church: St. Matthews Catholic.

Most admired leader: Thomas Jefferson.