By Josh Bergeron 

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

China Grove Mayor Pro Tempore Lee Withers on Thursday made his bid for the town’s top spot official.

Withers, 38, filed to run for China Grove mayor. As of Thursday afternoon, he’s the only candidate to file for the spot.

If successful in his bid for mayor, Withers said his top priorities would include improving the town’s parks, downtown beautification and economic development.

“We’ve got to move forward, got to be a viable community and try to attract the younger generation to China Grove,” Withers said.

He’s advocated for downtown beautification while on the town council, but said he would push even harder for improvement as mayor.

Withers, a Republican, is a Rowan County native, and graduated from South Rowan High School in 1995. He received an associate degree in horticulture from Catawba Valley Community College.

Currently, Withers is the Southeast regional manager for Husqvarna.

Withers first ran for a spot on the China Grove town council in 2007 and received more votes than any other candidate. He won a bid for re-election in 2011.

He is married to Kelley Withers, the principal of South Rowan High School. They have two daughters and a son.

Withers is a member of the China Grove Rotary Club, a past member of the YMCA board, past president of the China Grove Board of Trade and an Eagle Scout.

He attends First United Methodist Church in China Grove.

The only other candidate to file for public office on Thursday was Bill Earnhardt. Earnhardt filed for re-election to the Rockwell town board.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246