Choose three

Linda Taylor, owner of Valley Inn

Taylor has served on the town board eight years and has often been a controversial candidate.

“We won’t have unity in the town as long as we allow one or two people to come in and do ex parte communication with three board members to the exclusion of the other two,” Taylor said.

Mark Demeola, 42, log home dealer and developer

Demeola was appointed to the town board 14 months ago after an alderman resigned. He was on the planning board before that.

“I feel like I can do this job pretty well. I’ve had 14 months of training,” Demeola said. “You really need to immerse yourself into this position to really do it well. I take a great deal of time studying the issues and researching the issues.”

Roger McElroy, owner of Maggie Valley Realty and Construction and Meadowlark Inn

McElroy has been on the town of alderman on and off for many years. He lost re-election in 2003, but when an alderman resigned last year, McElroy was appointed to fill the vacancy. McElroy did not return phone calls for this article.

David Printz, 75, retired Miami police lieutenant

“I’m just tired of politicians ignoring the people and doing what they want to do and giving us what they think we should have,” Printz said.

Pat Tilley, 55, owner of a motel and mobile home park outside the county

Tilley has led the town planning board for four years and said the town board could take a lesson from the planning board.

“If we disagree, they listen to each other and respect each other and then we go out and have dinner,” said Tilley. “What’s right is right, what’s wrong is wrong, everything else in between is confusion.”

Saralyn Price, 50, retired Maggie Valley Police Chief

Price lost two years ago when she ran an active campaign as a write-in candidate. She is running this year as an official candidate.

“I am not a business owner and I will have no personal gain in being an aldermen,” Price said. “Town growth is inevitable. However, I feel it needs to be accomplished fairly and without personal agendas.”

Billy Case, 52, Realtor

Case lamented the reputation that has befallen Maggie Valley.

“Canton, Clyde and Waynesville governments run very smoothly and Maggie Valley for some reason continues to bicker and fight among themselves. If they are in there to promote self interests and not promote Maggie Valley, they are in there for the wrong reason,” Case said.

Jay Ring, 54, general contractor

“Growing up here, there was always a profound sense of community. We have lost that sense of community. For the last 20 years, there has been 30 to 40 people that have been running this town the way they want to see it done,” said Ring.

Colin Edwards, 40, owner of Soco Stone Company

Edwards grew up in Maggie Valley.

“I don’t feel like people are getting what they deserve for their tax money The ones that are in there just do what they want to do. They don’t get out and ask the community,” said Edwards.