Maggie Valley

There are two mayoral candidates and four seeking two seats on the Maggie Valley Town Board.

Maggie Valley mayor (Pick 1):

Roger McElroy, 69, incumbent

McElroy has more than 20 years of experience in Maggie Valley politics and prides himself on the expansion of the town’s sewer capacity, working to restructure the county’s TDA to give Maggie a fair share of tourism dollars, and his relationships with state legislators. He vehemently denies accusations of backdoor politics and says he encourages dialogue between the board and public.

Linda Taylor, 56, challenger

Taylor previously served as an alderman and lost her seat in the last election. She’s followed Maggie politics during that time and is up to speed on current issues — the town’s land-use plan is a big concern of hers, and she wants to make sure all the details are hammered out to benefit everyone in the best way possible. She would like to see the town’s business community better connected with one another. Taylor thinks the current board doesn’t discuss issues openly enough.

Maggie Valley alderman (Pick 2):

Phil Aldridge, 51, incumbent (4 years)

Aldridge, who’s served four years on the board, says the current aldermen work well together and wants to continue that progress. He is a proponent of the town’s proposed land-use plan and emphasizes collaboration between the town and county in crafting the plan. He wants to look into grant money to fund construction of a recreation park on the recently purchased Jonathan Creek land.

Colin Edwards, 42, incumbent (1.5 years, appointed after resignation of mayor Jo Pinter and appointment of McElroy as mayor)

Incumbent Edwards wants to keep the same board of alderman, saying the board has a good thing going after years of bickering that have traditionally plagued Maggie’s politics. He has lots of ideas for how the town’s portion of the TDA dollars could be spent — advertising Cataloochee and Ghost Town among them — and is the only candidate who does not support a slope ordinance.

Ed Jones, 57, challenger

Jones has served Maggie Valley in various capacities over the years, but this is the first bid he’s making for town office. He’s concerned about the direction Maggie is going in and wants the board to consider decisions more thoroughly before it jumps into them. Top issues for Jones are the land-use plan, which he thinks needs a great deal of public input, and controlling town spending.

Pat Tilley, 57, challenger

Tilley, former chair of the town’s planning board, is extremely concerned with an apparent lack of willingness of the current board to listen to the public on issues. Tilley wants more public input in the town’s land-use plan and advocates collaboration between the town and county in developing a slope ordinance.

Larry Wilkins: Dropped out of race

Canton

In Canton, Mayor Pat Smathers is running unopposed but the alderman race is wide open. Eight candidates are seeking four seats, including all four incumbents.

Canton alderman (Pick 4):

Troy Mann, 70, challenger

Mann, who at one time chaired the county’s planning board but has never served in elected office, wants to keep the cost of living low for senior citizens in the community so they can maintain a decent lifestyle. He thinks the tax increase this year makes it hard for seniors on a fixed income. Mann also sees Canton’s potential as a bedroom community to market to young families.

Ernest Stines, 76, challenger

Stines has never served in an elected capacity but has been chief if staff at the hospital and served on the Haywood County school board. He’s running because he says it’s time for a change, since the current alderman have been unopposed in the past few elections. Stines is interested in bringing more young people into town and revitalizing downtown to attract businesses.

Ted Woodruff, 80, incumbent (all but 4 years since 1967)

Incumbent Woodruff is the longest-serving member of the board (with the exception of four years, he’s been on since 1967). He wants to finish improvements to the International Sports Complex and credits the current board with helping the town recover from the 2004 floods.

Mike Ray, 56, incumbent (8 years)

Incumbent Ray is the newest member on the board and has also served on the hospital’s board of commissioners and county school board. He defends the town’s decision to raise taxes by pointing out that many services, like the local swimming pool and armory, were able to remain admission-free that way. Ray is interested in hiring an economic developer or business recruiter to bring businesses to Canton.

Bill Edwards, 79, incumbent (14 years)

Edwards, a current alderman, has been involved in the town’s appearance committee and historical commission. He’s proud of current board’s accomplishments, like the renovation of the Colonial Theater and construction of the International Sports Complex. Edwards would like to continue flood recovery efforts and work to get more use out of the Colonial Theater.

Charlie Crawford, 72, incumbent (16 years)

Crawford, an incumbent, has served on the county’s Economic Development Commission. He wants to continue flood recovery efforts and clean up outlying areas of Canton. Crawford will work to get more businesses to come to downtown Canton and is pleased with the new housing going up around Canton which will house the town’s fast-growing bedroom community.

Bob Burress, 73, challenger

Burress, who’s served on the hospital’s board of trustees, says it’s time for a change in members on the town board. He feels the community isn’t being heard enough and would encourage public comments. His top priorities include lowering taxes, re-opening the Rough Creek watershed issue, revitalizing downtown and attracting new businesses to Canton.

Eric Dills, 43

Dills was the only challenger to the current incumbents in the election held two years ago. He ran then because he thought taxes were too high, and since then, they’ve increased even more. Dills wants to bring the tax rate down to a manageable level for senior citizens on a fixed income. Providing activities for the children of Canon is another top priority — he wants more basketballs goals, swings, grills, and other things available for kids and their families to take advantage of. Dills wants to make Canton a family-friendly town and capitalize on its proximity to Asheville. If families with disposable income settle here, Dills says, businesses will follow.

Karen Hall: Dropped out of race

Waynesville

In Haywood’s county seat, popular Mayor Henry Foy is being challenged by well-known attorney and alderman Gavin Brown. Two other without political experience are also running for mayor. Four aldermen, three current incumbents, a well-known optometrist who has served on the board in the past, and three other challengers are seeking four seats.

Waynesville Mayor

Henry Foy, 83

Incumbent Foy says he should be re-elected because of his track record of leading Waynesville through 16 years of progress. He supports the town’s progressive land use plan and believes strongly in the conservation easement for the town’s watershed that will allow limited logging. He says liquor by the drink would not be good for Waynesville and wants to continue efforts to make the downtown area vital.

Gavin Brown, 60, current alderman

Brown is currently an alderman and thinks it’s time for a change in the town’s leadership. He touts his work on the town’s land-use plan as a major achievement, and is additionally proud of the conservation easement that will allow limited logging in the town’s watershed. Brown wants to bring liquor by the drink to Waynesville. A practicing lawyer, he serves as president of the Economic Development Commission and says he’s firmly entrenched in the business community.

Bernie Branhut, 71

Branhut, who’s never served in elected office, says the young people of Waynesville are a top priority to him. He wants to provide more things for the youthful population to do, like building a skate park. Branhut supports bringing liquor by the drink to town and is firmly against logging in the watershed.

Hugh Phillips, 45

Phillips doesn’t have any formal political experience, but as Bi-Lo’s store manager he says his customers give him a great idea of what their top issues and concerns are for the town. Kids and senior citizens are two special populations he’d like to work to benefit. Phillips is opposed to liquor by the drink and wants to do something to alleviate traffic on Russ Avenue.

Waynesville Alderman

Gary Caldwell, 50, 3 terms served

Caldwell, an incumbent, doesn’t support all aspects of the town’s land-use plan — he thinks pulling buildings up to the sidewalk has deterred new businesses from coming to the area. He’s against management of the watershed and says the town’s sewer and water lines need to be replaced.

Libba Feichter, 68, 2 terms served

Incumbent Feichter is extremely proud of the town’s land-use plan and the conservation agreement adopted by the board that will allow forest management in the town’s watershed. She’s interested in continued development at the former Dayco site and revitalizing west Waynesville.

Kenneth Moore, 72, 2 terms served

Moore, an incumbent, wants to win his seat again to take care of unfinished business, like the new fire department, renovation of the police department, and the Dayco development. He’s against any forest management in the town’s watershed.

Russel McLean, 27, challenger

A major issue for McLean, who’s never served in elected office, is the town’s land-use plan. He says it is so restrictive that it’s running out businesses and jobs. McLean thinks liquor by the drink would bring economic growth to Waynesville; he is opposed to forest management in the town’s watershed.

LeRoy Roberson, 65, previously served as an alderman

The appearance and redevelopment of west Waynesville around the Dayco site is an important issue to Roberson. Additionally, he supports the conservation easement that allows for limited forest management in the town’s watershed and is a proponent of the town’s land-use plan.

Dick Young, 70

Young has never served in elected capacity and is an outspoken critic of any type of forest management in the watershed. In fact, it’s his main platform. Other than that, Young would like to keep the tax rate as low as possible and promote Waynesville’s recreation center to secure more clients.

Charles Miller, 66

Like Young, Miller is also a strong opponent of logging in the town’s watershed. He doesn’t want to appear one-dimensional to voters, however. Miller advocates possibly building a skate park to give the town’s youth something to do, and is concerned that the land-use plan is too restrictive, which may be causing Waynesville to lose jobs and businesses.

Clyde

Clyde Mayor:

Jerry Walker, 71, is running unopposed.

Clyde aldermen (2 seats available)

Gary Cochran, 53

James Mashburn, 67

Bryson City

Bryson City Mayor

Jeremy Shuler, 35

Shuler, who has no prior political experience, is particularly concerned with combating crime in Bryson City and wants to help the police department secure the resources they need to fight it. Shuler additionally wants to address the town’s growth and upgrade their infrastructure.

Brad Walker, 63

Walker doesn’t have political experience but has served as head of the Chamber of Commerce and TDA boards over the 30 years he’s lived in Bryson City. Growth is a major priority to him, and he helped develop and implement the town’s pedestrian plan. He wants to work on crafting a land-use plan and address parking and other issues downtown.

Candidates Alan Brown, 50, and Ron Harless, 51, did not respond to requests for interviews.

Bryson City aldermen

James Gribble, incumbent, 64

Kate Welch, incumbent, 72

Jeff Myers, challenger, 49