KANNAPOLIS — Mayor Bob Misenheimer is reportedly recovering well following heart bypass surgery on Friday.
Misenheimer underwent surgery at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. A nurse in the hospital’s cardiac care unit would not release his condition.
In a phone call just before 8 p.m. Friday, Mayor Pro Tem Gene McCombs said that Misenheimer “came through surgery well, and he’s resting well.”
McCombs said he had spoken to the mayor’s wife, Bernie Misenheimer, a short time before.
“It’s really good news, and our prayers are answered,” McCombs said. “We just wish for him a speedy recovery,” McCombs said.
Misenheimer, 81, has served on the Kannapolis City Council since 1989.
Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg, reached by phone Friday evening, said he had learned of Misenheimer’s planned surgery only days before.
Legg declined to speculate on the details, saying he hadn’t had a chance to discuss the situation in detail.
“It was a fairly brief conversation,” Legg said.
However, Legg said he didn’t believe the situation was life-threatening.
McCombs said it was his understanding that the procedure was unexpected.
“We were out with them the night before, and knew that he had been undergoing some tests. I don’t believe that there was any indication that this was going to happen until they got to see the doctor.”
McCombs said that the mayor went into surgery about 1:30 p.m. for a procedure that was expected to take about five hours.

Contact Hugh Fisher via the editor’s desk at 704-797-4244.