The Sylva election this fall could prove to be an interesting litmus test of the town’s demographics and the mood of its citizens.

There’s no single issue defining the race, no swirling controversy, and no heated criticisms being lobbed by the challengers. But the candidates do hold different philosophies and general visions for the town.

Take the two challengers in the race, for example. One, Sarah Graham, is a young mother and relative newcomer to town. She is the director of the Downtown Sylva Association and her husband runs a graphic design and creative marketing firm. Graham not only touts smart-growth principles, but lives by them as well, showing up for a recent Democratic Women’s picnic on her bike.

The other challenger in the race, Mike Beck, is a local, born and raised in Sylva. He’s the town’s volunteer fire chief and has worked primarily blue-collar jobs. His preferred mode of transport is a truck.

How Graham and Beck each fare in the contest against three sitting board members could reveal whether a population shift is afoot in Sylva.

The race for town board two years ago nearly provided a similar scenario. One challenger was Stacey Knotts — who like Graham was a newcomer, a mother of young children and espoused a progressive vision for the town. The other challenger was Harold Hensley — a local, retired and traditional in his philosophy.

The head-to-head match up was thwarted when the third candidate in the race, incumbent Anne Cabe, dropped out due to last-minute due to legal troubles. That left Knotts and Hensley running unopposed for two seats on the board, so both were elected.

There are a total of five candidates running for three seats on the town board this year — three incumbents and two challengers. Here’s where they stand on some of the key issues.