N.C. House District 83
Incumbent Republican Rep. Linda Johnson, of Kannapolis, based Democrat Barry Richards, of Concord.
First elected to the N.C. House in 2001, Johnson is seeking a fifth term in office. Formerly a member of the Kannapolis Board of Education, she describes herself as a self-employed computer software analyst.
Richards, now a driver education instructor for the Cabarrus County Schools, he points to his years in business, including owning his own company, and his work in the school system. Richards has worked in the insurance and banking industries.
He has held several local positions, most recently serving as town manager of Mount Gilead in 2006.
N.C. Sen. District 36
N.C. Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, the Concord attorney and longtime Republican legislator, faces Harrisburg businessman and Democratic challenger Charles “Chuck” Paxton in the election for the 36th N.C. Senate seat.
The Cabarrus County Democratic Party chose Paxton, who owns Carolina Homes and Land Realty to replace local attorney Jim Johnson, who died Sept. 21.
Johnson’s name remains on all ballots for next Tuesday’s election; a vote for Johnson is a vote for Paxton.
County Board of Commissioners
Four candidates are contending for two seats on the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners.
Republican Robert Carruth, of Concord, has served on the board eight years and was its most recent chairman before that post went to fellow Republican Jay White last year. The other seat is opens. Commissioner Joni Juba is not seeking re-election.
Fellow Republican Elizabeth “Liz” Poole, a Concord resident and teacher at Concord High School, also has eight years of local government experience. As chairwoman of the Cabarrus County Board of Education, she attended county commission meetings.
A relative newcomer to the area and the political scene, Democrat Wendell Fant said he will bring accountability to the board. He works as an independent consultant with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte.
The other Democratic candidate, retired plumber Archie Barnhardt, of Concord, stresses his years of experience in the business community.
He previously served on the Cabarrus Board of Commissioners from 1982 to 1986 and, prior to that, as treasurer of the now-defunct Parkwood Sanitation District.
“I’m just a plain ol’ country boy. I get down to business,” said Barnhardt, who said he will promote conservative fiscal policy if elected.
Cabarrus County Board of Education
Most Cabarrus County voters will find a host of candidates ó 17 ó running for five seats on the Cabarrus County Board of Education.
Members of that six-member board manage all schools in the county except those in the Kannapolis City School System.
Of the five seats up for election, the top four vote getters will serve four-year terms, and the fifth-place finisher will fill an unexpired term ending in 2010.
The election is nonpartisan, and the three incumbents running are:
– Holly Blackwelder, 4650 Ponderosa Lane, Concord. Phone: 704-788-9254, home, and 704-791-5443, cell. E-mail: sandhblack@vnet.net.
– Cindy S. Fertenbaugh, 1307 Dennbriar Drive N.W., Concord. Phone: 704-788-1476, home. E-mail: cindy cab@aol.com.
– Wayne C. Williams, 109 McArthur Ave. S.E., Concord. Phone: 704-786-0893, home. E-mail: wwill@ctc.net.
The challengers are:
– Lew Davidson, 116 Partridge Bluff Drive N.E., Concord. Phone 704-786-0470, home, 704-467-0779, cell. E-mail: lew@Lew Davidson.com.
– Tim Furr, 3344 Muddy Creek Road, Midland. Phone: 704-888-0443, home, 980-521-8828, cell. E-mail: timfurr30 @hotmail.com.
– David P. Harrison, 8724 Middleton Circle, Harrisburg. Phone: 704-455-6620, home. E-mail: HarrisonCab Schools08@carolina.rr.com.
– Mike Helms, 7900 Malibu Road, Mount Pleasant. Phone: 704-436-8240, home, 704-773-0995, office.
– Thomas B. Hill, 10896 Pioneer Mill Road, Concord. Phone: 704-455-9200, home, 704-621-8621, cell. E-mail: thomasbhill@msn.com.
– Anna Hood, 33 Patton Court S.E., Concord. Phone: 704-795-0737, home, 704-699-5528, office.
– Toni Wheeler Jenschke, 6230 Roseway Court, Harrisburg. Phone: 704-454-7102, 704-773-3729, cell. E-mail: jenschsmom@yahoo.com.
– Blake Kiger, 9803 Scheer Court, Harrisburg. Phone: 704-454-5622, 704-773-6937. E-mail: blake@kigercc.com.
– Anne Spence Laukaitis, 214 Blackberry Trail, Concord. Phone: 704-786-6326, home, 704-425-6717, cell. E-mail: annelaukaitis1@caro lina.rr.com.
– Wilma King Means, 328 Melrose Drive S.W., Concord. Phone: 704-782-9768, 704-777-1920, office.
– Jan A. van Ravesteyn, 1942 Stonewyck Ave., Kannapolis. Phone: 704-938-2849, home, 704-796-5052, cell.
– Robert Tizon, 4365 N.C. 49 S. No. 500-282, Harrisburg. Phone: 704-979-1129, home, 704-400-4539, cell. E-mail: rtizon@carolina.rr.com.
– Philip C. Stephens, 901 Hanover Drive N.W., Concord. Phone: 740-720-0775, home, 704-783-1395, office.
– Rob Walter, 2322 Lomax Court, Concord. Phone: 704-784-9115, 704-920-5900, office. E-mail: RPWalter@ yahoo.com.
Soil and Water District
One seat on the five-member Supervisors Board of the Cabarrus County Soil and Water District is up for election on Nov. 4.
But that one seat has drawn more candidates than some races on more publicized boards.
Newcomers John Chaney III, 65, and Jonathan Johnson, 26, are asking voters for the chance to take the place of incumbent Tommy Porter Jr., 54.
Thomas Porter is also a farmer who says he wants to reduce sprawl when growth takes place in the county. He’s served two terms on the Cabarrus Watershed Improvement Commission and is currently on the county planning and zoning board.
Chaney, of 4551 Chaney Road, Midland, is a farmer who says he was one of the first in the area to use “no-till” farming methods that help prevent excessive runoff. “I’m qualified because I’ve farmed, and I understand soil and water movements and I understand what needs to change. I feel we need to reclaim some of the water from runoffs,” Chaney says.
Johnson, of 396 George W. Lyles Parkway, Concord, says he is an Iraq war veteran who used to tag along with his cousin, former Soil and Water District Supervisor Scott Herman, when he held the position. Johnson is a part-time student at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, studying marketing.