Charlotte will get its first new mayor in 14 years. Matthews will elect its first in 18. And the school board will get a new chairman and at least three new members.

Leadership across the county will change this fall.

The 2009 election formally kicks off at 8 a.m. today when filing for local offices opens across the state. Voters will elect mayors, city councils and, in Mecklenburg, six of nine school board members.

Filing runs through noon July 17.

The shape of Charlotte's mayoral race has been set for months. Republican Pat McCrory, the city's longest-serving chief executive, is stepping down after seven terms.

Council members Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, and John Lassiter, a Republican, are the main candidates to replace him. Both have strong party support and sizable war chests.

With Democrats controlling five of seven districts, Republicans will have to sweep the four at-large seats to wrest control of the city council.

New faces and a possible new direction are guaranteed for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board, which oversees a budget of more than $1 billion and educates more than 134,000 kids.

Of the board's nine seats, the six district slots are up for election; three at-large ones are not. Three districts have no incumbents running, and a fourth is represented by a recent appointee who has never run for office.

That sets up a rare opportunity for new faces in seats long held by board members with strong views and personalities.

The new school board must figure out how to serve academic needs with a shrinking budget. It will face tough choices on school construction and renovation as a county debt crunch forces a slowdown in projects promised during bond campaigns.

And like school leaders across the country, members must figure out how to help low-income and minority students perform as well as white and middle-class counterparts in reading, math and other subjects.

Here's how the races are expected to shape up.

Democrat Anthony Foxx and Republican John Lassiter are expected to give voters the most competitive mayor's race in 20 years.

Though other candidates – such as Republican Martin Davis – are expected to file, Foxx and Lassiter have had a long head start.

Because both are at-large council members, only two at-large incumbents – Democrat Susan Burgess and Republican Edwin Peacock – are among those running for four at-large seats.

Several candidates already have announced for the at-large council seats, including former Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon.

District races have historically been less competitive.

Over three decades, only one district incumbent has lost re-election. Only one district – eastside District 5 in 1999 – has switched party control.

This year there's expected to be at least two primaries. In Districts 1 and 5, incumbent Democrats Patsy Kinsey and Nancy Carter face opposition.

School board races are nonpartisan – there is no primary and no party affiliation listed on the ballot. That doesn't mean parties don't get involved. A board long dominated by Democrats now has a more balanced mix of Republicans and independents.

Here's an early outlook on the school races:

The north suburban district with the largest share of registered voters is losing Larry Gauvreau, who has become famous for his colorful, conservative and contrarian opinions in the eight years he's held the seat. Rhonda Lennon, a nurse and CMS parent who lost to Gauvreau four years ago, is already running.

Vilma Leake, a retired teacher whose outspoken liberal views often provided a counterpoint to Gauvreau, stepped down after 11 years to become a county commissioner. Kimberly Mitchell-Walker, who was appointed to the west/southwestern Charlotte seat, isn't running. Richard McElrath, also a retired teacher, has been campaigning.

George Dunlap, a retired police officer who spent 13 years representing the north/northeastern District 3, rounded out the trio of outspoken and controversial voices. He also stepped down to become a county commissioner. The remaining members chose Republican James Ross to represent the district, which has a majority of registered Democrats. Ross, who originally said he wouldn't run, now says he will. His politics have proven unpredictable, and no early challenger has emerged. But there are rumblings that Democrats will try to reclaim the seat.

Tom Tate, a minister who is probably the current board's most liberal member, won the east/central District 4 seat in a hotly contested race four years ago. He's running again; it's unclear what kind of opposition he might face.

A hard-fought race is already emerging to replace board chair Molly Griffin, who is stepping down after 12 years representing the south Charlotte District 5. Banker Eric Davis started early and has piled up a list of endorsements, including Griffin's. Susan Walker, a former executive for an office equipment and software company, has also launched a campaign with vice chair Kaye McGarry's backing.

Ken Gjertsen, a CMS parent who works for Bank of America, is seeking a second term representing the south suburban District 6. Still to be seen is whether he'll have to fight for it.

Mecklenburg County's longest-serving mayor, Lee Myers of Matthews, announced last week he's stepping down after 18 years.

Voters in Matthews will elect a new mayor and town board of commissioners. So will voters in Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Mint Hill. Pineville voters will elect a new mayor and council.

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