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Tuesday, voters in 13 Union County towns will elect mayors, board members or both.
Early voting ended Saturday. The remaining voters, and there are plenty, will trek to polling places to cast ballots.
Early voter turnout had been scant by the end of last week. That's not unusual for municipal elections. However, voter turnout should not imply lack of issues. There's plenty to consider.
Here are some highlights:
Indian Trail
Two seats on the five-member council are up for election. The mayor's seat isn't up for election.
A big issue the winners in the council race will face is whether Union's second-largest town should create its own police department. Indian Trail now contracts with Union County for police coverage. Many of the candidates have said they favor continuing the contract. Council candidates also have discussed improving roadways, promoting economic development and developing parks and greenways in the town, which now has no public park.
Indian Trail also has been plagued by conflict between Mayor John Quinn and some town council members, often culminating in tense exchanges at town meetings. The council has enacted controversial measures to limit Quinn's involvement, including banning him from contributing to the town's newsletter and Web site and requiring all of his contact with town employees to go through Interim Town Manager Peggy Piontek. New faces on the board could soften the mayor-council conflicts - or intensify them.
Stallings
Stallings has four candidates running for mayor. Mayor Lynda Paxton, who has served one term, is running against former mayor Lucy Drake, whom Paxton defeated in 2005. Drake had served four terms. Barbara Ann Price, a town council member, is running. Another challenger is Louis Philippi, a former member of the county board of adjustments who ran unsuccessfully for town council in 2005.
The Monroe Connector Bypass will have a huge impact on Stallings. Businesses will be displaced and one of the town's business corridors will be shifted along U.S. 74. The town's leaders continue to work with N.C. Turnpike authorities to determine exactly what the road will look like and what areas will be impacted. Work could start on the bypass as early as next summer, and the road is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
Stallings also has an ongoing commitment to protect, develop and define the town's historic downtown areas.
Weddington
Weddington has four candidates running for mayor. Mayor Nancy Anderson is seeking re-election. Challengers are Walker Davidson, Barbara Harrison and former Union County commissioner Hughie Sexton.
Anderson has been at the center of controversy over her support of some road projects, including a proposed extension to Rea Road. Town leaders continue to grapple with how to develop the town, which has historically wanted a rural ambiance.
Weddington is a pass-through town for many commuters to and from Charlotte. Providence Road is being widened from I-485 through Weddington to accommodate commuter traffic.
Here is a list of candidates in contested races in Union County towns and the number of open seats facing election. Incumbents are marked with "i."
Fairview Town Council (two seats): Jerry Clontz (i), Bradley Purser (i), Elizabeth Rabb.
Hemby Bridge alderman (two seats): John Miller (i), Rodney Mullis, Kevin Pressley, Jim Simpson.
Indian Trail Town Council (two seats): Robert W. Allen, Kathy Broom, Vince Howard, Larry Kindley, Darlene Luther, John W. Marshall.
Marshville Town Council (two seats): Dora C. Bridget (i), Matthew Jefferson, Larry Smith Jr., Brian Weber.
Marvin mayor: Joseph Barbara, John Ciaramella Jr. (i).
Marvin Town Council (two seats): Anthony Burman, Robert Epps, Richard Keagy, Vicki Lawton (i), Ron Salimao.
Mineral Springs Town Council (three seats): Charles Bowden, Jerry Countryman (i), Janet Critz (i), Melody LaMonica (i).
Stallings mayor: Lucy Drake, Lynda Paxton (i), Louis Philippi, Barbara Ann Price.
Stallings Town Council: District 1, one seat - Al Graham (i), write-in candidate Harry Stokes; District 2, one seat - Reed Esarove, Jerry Nolan; District 3, one seat - Wyatt Dunn, Michael Matlock; District 6, one seat - Paul Frost, Doug Hutton, Jason Klingler.
Unionville mayor: Kenneth Austin, Larry Simpson (i).
Unionville Town Commission (two seats): Ken Brown Jr. (i), Robert Croutch (i), Richard Griffin, Tim Keziah, Arlie Rushing.
Waxhaw commissioner (three seats): Joyce Blythe (i), Ken Collins, Brett R. Diller, Erin Kirkpatrick, Max Walker (i).
Weddington mayor: Nancy Anderson (i), Walker Davidson, Barbara Harrison, Hughie Sexton.
Weddington Town Council: District 1, one seat - L.A. Smith (i), Werner Thomisser; District 3, one seat - Daniel Barry, Greg Wyant.
Wesley Chapel Town Council (two seats): Howard Brotton, Kim Ormiston, Chuck Rohland.
