By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — There are currently 16 major projects underway in the town of East Spencer and Mayor Barbara Mallett said she hopes to see the completion of them all. Mallett is running for re-election.

She was first elected to the board in 2005 and has served as the town clerk and finance officer. Mallett was elected in 2011 where she replaced then Mayor John Cowan, who did not seek re-election that year and in 2013 she ran unopposed. During this election, Mallett, 68, faces newcomers Rhonda Kerns and Brint Polk.

Mallett said she wants to “continue to serve the citizens of East Spencer” and make sure “we as the board of aldermen show our fiduciary responsibility to be efficient and responsible to our taxpayers.”

Her top two priorities are the $2.4 million water and sewer grant project, which is expected to be complete in 2017 as well as the redevelopment of Royal Giants Park. The town developed a plan in 2013, adopted it in 2014 and this year have received funds toward the renovations.

Mallett is a graduate of Olive Hill High and attended Livingstone College. She has an associates degree in accounting from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Shaw University. She is a native of Morganton.

She is a member of Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church where she is a class leader, deaconess, trustee, life member and president of the Lay Council.

Mallett serves on the following boards: Novant Health Rowan Medical Center board of directors, chair of Salisbury Transportation Advisory Board, Rowan County Nursing Home Advisory Board, Smart Start Rowan board of directors, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Patient Advisory Council, Livingstone College’s United Negro College Fund.

She and her husband of 49 years, Gary, have two daughters, Crystal and Tarsha. Mallett has two grandchildren.