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The Cornelius town board will get at least two new members, but Mayor Jeffery Tarte, 53, will be unopposed in his bid for a second term.
Many in the north Mecklenburg lake community of more than 24,000 residents want to maintain its 27.5-cents-per-$100 tax rate.
Ten candidates have entered the nonpartisan race for the board's five seats.
Among the incumbents, Thurman Ross Jr., 47, is the longest-standing commissioner with 14 years of service. James Bensman, 66, joined the board in 2001 and Dave Gilroy, 43, in 2005.
Incumbents Susan Medlin and Eddie McNeely are not running.
Lawrence "Larry" Lotito served one term as a town commissioner beginning in 1999. His ran unsuccessfully in 2001.
Frederick "Rick" Barton and Joe Vagnone have no previous service in town government.
Barton, 48, is a self-employed salesman representing a line of frozen dessert products, he said.
Vagnone, 46, is a self-employed small business broker, he said.
Vagnone has faced questions for listing a doctorate and a master's degree from Rochville University, an online program, on his Web site. Rochville is suspected of being a diploma mill, according to a 2005 CNN investigation.
The entry for Rochville has been removed from Vagnone's Web site.
"It is a business and life experience certification or degree, nothing more," Vagnone said. "It was never presented as anything academic."
Vagnone said in an Oct. 17 e-mail to Cornelius citizens that the focus on his academic credentials is a diversion designed to defeat him.
The Observer also found other questions about candidates in background checks:
Barton pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in July 2003. Barton said he made "a terrible mistake." Lotito filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in North Carolina in 2003. Attempts to reach Lotito were unsuccessful.
Among the remaining candidates, several candidates serve on town boards and committees.
Lynette Rinker, 52, and Chuck Travis, 50, are on the planning board; Pat Jackson, 45, and Richard Stilwell Jr., 52, are on the Fire and Rescue Advisory Committee.
