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Union County voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved mixed drink referendums in three towns.
Meanwhile, Ted Biggers and Jim Taylor scored easy victories Tuesday in their bids to win mayoral races in two of Mecklenburg County's southeastern cities. In Huntersville, Jill Swain beat back a challenge from Brian Sisson to win re-election as mayor.
Biggers, the Mint Hill incumbent, had 76.6 percent of the votes, to 22.7 percent for challenger Larry Bumgarner, in returns from four of six precincts.
In Matthews, Taylor had 63 percent of the vote, to 36.6 percent for Jack Davis, with three of six precincts reporting. The two men were vying to replace Mecklenburg's most veteran mayor, Lee Myers.
In Huntersville, Swain had 50.8 percent of the vote, to 48.8 percent for challenger Brian Sisson, with returns counted in two of eight precincts.
Some of the major races on the ballot Tuesday in the towns and cities outside Charlotte:
HUNTERSVILLE
With unofficial returns from all eight precincts, Swain had 2,168 votes, to 2,046 votes for Sisson.
Swain said she has worked hard to develop good relationships with other local, state and federal leaders, to help manage growth in the city. Sisson said his 20 years as a business consultant make him a better planner and manager.
During the campaign, Sisson said Swain has not communicated well with town commissioners and has not provided good leadership. Swain countered that Sisson told her a few years ago that "there's a new sheriff in town, and he's running things." Both candidates denied the other's charges.
Winning the five seats on the town Board of Commissioners were Sarah McAulay, Ron Julian, Ken Lucas, Charles Jeter and Beth Danae Caulfield. The top four finishers were incumbents.
Others in the race were former commissioners Teri Leonhardt and Jeff Pugliese, along with Eddie Bruce, Nea Howes, Bill Iuliano, and Kenneth Reed.
MATTHEWS
With Lee Myers not seeking re-election after 18 years in office, the mayoral battle was decided between town commissioner Jim Taylor and former commissioner Jack Davis.
Taylor, 45, who had the support of Myers and several other current board members, said he would continue the philosophy of Myers, supporting business growth with companies that feature good-paying jobs. He said Matthews can be "a smaller version of Ballantyne" by attracting corporate jobs.
Davis, 63, a downtown Matthews business owner, said he wants town government to do more in support of small businesses in the central district. He said he would be "a mayor who is accessible" and would be willing for residents to talk with him anytime at his downtown business, Flapdoodle Auctions.
Taylor said residents want a style of leadership similar to Myers. "I think Matthews deserves a mayor who's going to be out there and be an aggressive advocate for the town," he said. "I have no desire of changing the direction or vision of the town."
Winning the six spots on the Board of Commissioners were incumbents Suzanne Gulley, Kress Query and Nancy LaFond; former commissioner Paul Bailey; newcomer John Urban; and incumbent Jeff Miller. The other candidate was John Higdon.
MINT HILL
Longtime mayor Ted Biggers was challenged by Larry Bumgarner.
Biggers said the town should stick with its plan of development, including downtown-area growth and the proposed Bridges at Mint Hill Mall -- a major shopping area which has been not been built because of the recession. Bumgarner said a new town hall should be built at the mall site, saying the project is "defunct."
In the race for four seats on the Board of Commissioners, incumbents won re-election. They were (in order of finish) Lloyd Austin, Tina Ross, Mickey Ellington, and Brenda McRae. Trailing were challengers Adam Kaplan, Dennis Green and Eric Random.
UNION COUNTY LIQUOR VOTES
With unofficial returns counted from all precincts in Indian Trail, Waxhaw and Wingate, the mixed drink issues were big winners.
In Indian Trail, voters approved the sale of mixed drinks (1,420 votes to 600) and the opening of an ABC store (1,336 votes to 680).
Waxhaw voters said "yes" to the sale of beer and wine (1,264 votes to 326) and mixed drinks (1,254 votes to 337).
And in Wingate, voters approved mixed drinks (137 votes to 78) and the opening of an ABC store (130 votes to 85).
Voters in the Union County towns of Stallings, Weddington and Wesley Chapel have approved mixed drink sales in recent years, and that fueled supporters of similar ballot proposals Tuesday in Indian Trail, Waxhaw and Wingate.
Indian Trail voters last year approved beer and wine sales by a margin of 65 percent to 35 percent. Supporters said they hoped for a similar result Tuesday with the mixed drinks proposal.
Waxhaw voters had a history of rejecting mixed drink proposals, most recently in 2004. Many business owners, especially in the downtown district, have been strong supporters of the proposal this time. Supporters said they think opposition to mixed drinks has waned in recent years, with an influx of new residents from Mecklenburg County.
The issue has been quiet in Wingate, with only two people speaking at a public hearing earlier this year.
UNION COUNTY TOWNS
Stallings Mayor Lynda Paxton won re-election Tuesday, piling up a 2-to-1 margin over former Mayor Lucy Drake. With returns counted from all six precincts, Paxton had 937 votes, to 484 for Drake. Trailing were Louis Philippi (185 votes) and Barbara Anne Price (76).
A write-in candidate won the District 1 town council race, but elections officials did not have that candidate's name Tuesday night. The other council winners were Reed Esarove (District 2), Wyatt Dunn (District 3) and Paul Frost (District 6).
Nancy Anderson won re-election as mayor in Weddington, with 515 votes, to 370 for Walker Davidson, 281 for Barbara Harrison, and 243 for Hughie Sexton. Town council winners were Werner Thomisser (District 1) and Daniel Barry (District 3). Thomisser's margin of victory over L.A. Smith was only five votes of 1,345 cast, so a recount is possible.
Other winners:
Fairview ... Bradley Purser and Jerry Clontz for town council.
Hemby Bridge ... Rodney Mullis and Kevin Pressley for the board of aldermen.
Indian Trail ... Robert Allen and Darlene Luther for town council, although Danny Figueroa and Kathy Broom ran a close third and fourth in the race for two seats.
Lake Park ... Kendall Spence was elected mayor, and Sandy Coughlin and David Cleveland won village council seats.
Marshville ... Frank Deese was unopposed for mayor, and Matthew Jefferson and Dora Bridget were elected to town council.
Marvin ... John Ciaramella Jr. edged Joseph Barbara 348 votes to 342 votes, so a recount is possible. Elected to village council were Anthony Burman and Ron Salimao.
Mineral Springs ... Rick Becker was unopposed for mayor. The winners in the town council race were Jerry Countryman, Janet Critz and Melody LaMonica.
Unionville ... Larry Simpson was elected mayor, with Ken Brown Jr. and Robert Croutch elected town commissioners.
Waxhaw ... Elected town commissioners were Erin Kirkpatrick, Brett Diller and Joyce Blythe.
Wesley Chapel ... Brad Horvath was unopposed for mayor. Elected to village council were Kim Ormiston and Howard Brotton.
Wingate ... Brett Moser defeated Johnny Jacumin in a race for town commissioner.
CONCORD
Longtime incumbent Mayor Scott Padgett won re-election Tuesday, beating back a challenge from a declared candidate and a write-in.
With returns counted from all 25 precincts, Padgett had 71 percent of the vote, to 18.9 percent for Johnny "Elvis" Almond and 9.6 percent for write-in hopeful Alex Porter.
Padgett came under criticism last year for the city's deal with Lowes Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith over development of the dragstrip next to the speedway. But Porter mounted a write-in candidacy on the issue of the new Cabarrus County Detention Center. That jail is being located in downtown Concord, a block from the historic district, where Porter lives.
The detention center was an issue of contention in Concord, and Porter led the neighborhood opposition.
Observer staff writers Cliff Harrington, Celeste Smith and Mark Price, and special correspondent Melinda Johnston contributed.<.i>
