By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
FAITH — There could be a new mayor in town.
In unofficial results, current Mayor Pro Tem Todd Peeler edged out Mayor Keith Deal 105 votes to 101, a difference of less than one percent in the race for five seats on the town’s Board of Aldermen.
Traditionally, the top vote-getter in the town board race takes on the role of mayor, while the second-highest vote-getter serves as mayor pro tem.
Peeler, 48, said he hasn’t really thought about being mayor.
“It’s a privilege and an honor just to be elected,” he said. “No matter if you’re mayor, mayor pro tem or a board member, as long as we all work together for the same cause that’s all that matters.”
This will be Peeler’s fourth term on the board.
“I would like to thank everybody that voted. I appreciate their confidence in me and I hope I can live up to that,” he said. “I’m looking forward to another term.”
Deal, 56, said even if he’s not mayor, he’s still happy to have the chance to serve the town again. This will be his second term on the board.
“I just hope we can continue to serve our community,” he said. “We most definitely need to keep an eye on our spending and also on the revenue that’s coming in.”
Incumbents Gary Gardner, 64, and Bill Johnson, 52, were also re-elected to the board with 93 and 92 votes, respectively. They each received about 17 percent of the vote.
“I think we’ve got a good board,” Johnson said. “We’ll continue to work for the town.”
Newcomer Gay Sanderson, 64, will join the board for the first time. She received 53 votes, about 10 percent of the vote.
“I’m really excited, I look forward to serving the people of Faith,” she said. “I thank all the people who voted for me.”
Although Mike Hibler, 60, didn’t win a seat on the board, he says that won’t stop him from running again. He got 45 votes, more than 8 percent.
“I’ll still stay active,” he said. “I think the board has a pretty good base since most of them have served before.”
Ronald Mauzy, 39, who received 33 votes, about 6 percent, said he’s not sure if he’ll run again.
“It’s way too early to think about that now,” he said. “Ask me again a year and 10 months from now.”
Gardner could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.