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It's decision time.
Voters across the south Charlotte suburbs will go to the polls Tuesday to elect town mayors and board members, decide whether to allow mixed drink sales and - in the York County area - resolve a school board race and state legislative contest.
Today's Neighbors looks at many of the races, issues and candidates. It also includes polling hours and where to get your questions answered.
Matthews
The two Matthews mayoral candidates want to bring in new businesses to boost the town's economy.
They differ on how they'll do it.
Candidate Jack Davis, a downtown business owner, wants to recruit more entrepreneurs to the heart of Matthews. "Over 50 percent of our stores are empty," Davis says. With lease deals from building owners, he says, these stores can be vital again.
Candidate Jim Taylor, vice president for Wachovia, is all for recruiting companies with well-paying salaries. With its I-485 interchanges as potential business sites, Taylor says, Matthews can be "a smaller version of Ballantyne" by bringing corporate jobs there.
The winner will be the town's first new mayor in 18 years. Nine-term mayor Lee Myers isn't running for election.
Also, voters will fill six seats on the town council.
Both mayoral candidates have logged extensive town service.
Davis, 63, was a town commissioner from 2002 to 2005, served on the board of adjustment in the 1980s, and has served civic organizations, including as a board member for Matthews HELP Center.
Taylor, 45, served 10 years on the town council, currently as mayor pro-tem. He is co-chair of the Matthews Historical Task Force, serves on the Matthews Fire Department board of directors, and also is a past board member at the HELP Center.
Taylor said he's been endorsed by fellow town council members. Davis said he has "the support of all the downtown businesses."
Taylor believes Matthews residents want their new mayor to continue with a style similar to the out-going Myers, who held powerful positions in several area transportation groups. "I think Matthews deserves a mayor who's going to be out there and be an aggressive advocate for the town," Taylor said. "I have no desire of changing the direction or vision of the town."
Davis said he'd be "a mayor who is accessible" and would welcome Matthews residents stopping in his downtown business, Flapdoodle Auctions, to talk about their concerns. "Being available in town every day in my business, I think that's a good thing for the citizens of our town."
Seven candidates are seeking six open seats on the Matthews Town council. Incumbents are: Suzanne Gulley, Nancy LaFond, Jeff Miller and Kress Query. Challengers are: Paul Bailey, John Higdon and John Urban.
Mint Hill
Candidates in Mint Hill's mayor and board of commissioners races say growth and development, traffic and a new town hall are among the biggest issues facing their town in the next two years.
Longtime mayor Ted Biggers is challenged by political newcomer Larry Bumgarner.
Seven candidates are running for the town's four commissioner seats, all up for re-election.
Incumbents seeking re-election are: Lloyd Austin, Carl "Mickey" Ellington, Brenda McRae and Tina Ross. Challengers are: Dennis Green, Adam Kaplan and Eric Random.
All candidates were asked to fill out an Observer questionnaire about experience, qualifications and plans to address pressing issues. At the top of candidates' lists of issues: growth and its effect on roads and other infrastructure.
Biggers said he supports the board's current transportation plan. "We must work closely with local and state officials to find new sources of funding for local projects," he wrote. He wants to see downtown develop according to plans by citizens and the town board.
For the past several years, the board has talked about building a new town hall. Bumgarner would like to see a new town hall built on part of the land allotted for the long-planned Bridges at Mint Hill mall - a project he calls "defunct." He'd also like to see a new post office there so Mint Hill could get its own ZIP code. Melinda Johnston and Caroline McMillan
Pineville
As of Tuesday, it is likely that George Fowler will become Mecklenburg County's longest-serving mayor.
That is, unless there's a surprise write-in candidate in Pineville's mayoral race. Voters will also decide on four at-large town council seats.
Fowler, 69, is running unopposed for his eighth term, not including the earlier term he spent as mayor, from 1981-83.
He would become the longest-standing mayor because Lee Myers of Matthews decided not to seek re-election after 18 years and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who tied Fowler's seven terms, also isn't running for re-election.
"I should have known better than to get back in," says Fowler, who also served as a member of the town council from 1979-81. "I didn't expect to be here this long, but you know how it goes. You start something and you like to see it completed."
An Observer survey of the seven candidates vying for council seats showed most feel traffic is a major problem facing the town of 7,000. Their solutions included lobbying the state to widen Interstate 485 in a timelier manner, and convincing the state to replace aging traffic signals.
"Everyone knows around the holiday season, if you come through Pineville, you will sit in a traffic jam," said candidate Deborah Fowler. "It's great that we have such good shopping centers and Carolina Place Mall. However, residents are affected by the traffic they cause."
All four of the council's incumbents are seeking re-election: Libby Boyd Boatwright, Jim Eschert, Les Gladden and David Phillips. Hopefuls are Fowler, Jimmy Wilson and Tony Jennings. Mark Price
