Mayor — pick one

Joe Collins, 50, attorney

Collins has been mayor for two years and was an alderman for six years before that. (The seat of mayor is up for election every two years in Franklin.)

“The real overriding issue that we have ahead of us is planning,” Collins said. “We are really behind the times.”

Verlin Curtis, 69, owner of Curtis TV and Radio Shack

Curtis has been an alderman for two years. If he doesn’t win as mayor, he keeps his seat as alderman for two more years. If he wins, the other alderman will have to appoint someone to his seat.

“I filed at the last minute to give people a choice,” Curtis said of his decision to run. “Opposition better serves the town government and the taxpayers.”

Aldermen — pick three

Billy Mashburn, 53, a paralegal who does real estate and estate work

Mashburn has been an alderman for 15 years.

“I decided to run again because there were so many issues that the town board and the town of Franklin are facing. The main issue is growth, which has led to problems with water and sewer issues. It is an exciting time right now.”

Jim Williamson, 71, retired town administrator

Williamson has been an alderman for eight years.

“I have been involved in the town as an alderman and as former town administrator and we have made progress and there’s still progress to be made. I would like to lend a hand and help move forward.”

Edwin Hall, 72, retired from NP&L accounting department

Hall has been an alderman for a year and a half. He was appointed to fill the seat of Joe Collins, who was an alderman with two years left on his term when he ran for mayor in 2003 and won, leaving a vacant seat.

Hall said he is running because “You see so many things get started and the idea of wanting to see them finished.”

Sissy Pattillo, 65, retired school counselor

Pattillo is an advocate of land-use planning and building a community vision.

“I am a firm believer that it is not my town or your town, it is our town. I think the more people who become involved and take ownership of problems and issues, the better, I am very much for the inclusion of the public.”

Pattillo also added that “a woman brings a different perspective to the board.” Franklin has no female alderman currently.

Jerry Evans, 50, manager of Terminex

Evans served as an alderman for eight years and was voted off two years ago but is making another go at it.

“There’s some things that were started that I would like to see finished,” Evans said. “There’s things I’d like to see done that’s not being worked on.”

Replacing water lines tops Curtis’ list, but he also wants more sidewalks in the neighborhoods, wants recreation for kids like a skate park and wants to do something about animal control.

Tom Woodlee, 75, retired from General Motors finance division

Woodlee served as alderman for four years, mayor for two and then alderman again for two more. Woodlee came off the board in 2001 but decided he wants another go.

“I am retired from General Motors and have time to spend on the job and need something to keep me active. I see some things that I would like to see done,” Woodlee said. Woodlee said he’s against raising taxes for any reason.