Municipal election day is Tuesday

Published 12:10 am Sunday, November 1, 2015

Rowan County’s 2015 municipal races will come to an end Tuesday when voters head to the polls for election day.

In Rowan County’s smaller municipalities, voters will all cast ballots in the same location. Only in Kannapolis and Salisbury are there multiple voting locations. All Rowan County polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Same day registration will not be allowed on Tuesday. It was allowed during early voting, when 1,230 casts ballots over a nearly two-week period.

Expectedly, Salisbury brought out the largest number of people — 1,072 — for early voting. It’s also the most hotly contested race in Rowan County in 2015. A record number of candidates — 16 — are running for five spots. With only three incumbents running for re-election, at least two challengers will make the city council.

Spencer will have a new mayor. Incumbent Jody Everhart decided not to run for re-election. Two current town board members and a third contender are vying for the mayor spot. A total of 80 Spencer residents cast ballots during the early voting period.

East Spencer could also have a new mayor. Incumbent Barbara Mallett has competition from two challengers. A total of 18 East Spencer residents cast ballots during the early voting period.

Landis’ mayor and aldermen races also promise to be interesting. A former mayor is running for the spot again against the town’s current mayor pro tem. Aldermen candidates have largely fallen into two camps, with each group favoring a certain candidate for mayor. A total of 24 Landis residents cast ballots during the early voting period.

Kannapolis City Council is also hotly contested with only three spots available among the seven who filed for the race. A total of eight Kannapolis residents on the Rowan County side cast ballots during early voting.

Granite Quarry doesn’t truly have a race. The same number of candidates filed as spots available. However, Bill Feather will likely be the first mayor elected by voters. Previously, town board members selected a mayor among themselves. A total of 12 Granite Quarry residents cast ballots during the early voting period.

China Grove will also likely have a new mayor. Incumbent Don Bringle decided not to run for re-election. Mayor Pro Tem Lee Withers was the only one to file for China Grove Mayor in 2015. A total of seven China Grove residents cast ballots during the early voting period.

Cleveland’s town board has two spots open and three people running. Faith has the same number of candidates running as spots available.

Voting locations for individual precincts are included below. For any voting related questions, contact the Rowan County Board of Elections at 704-216-8140.

• Blackwelder Park

Blackwelder Park Baptist Church, 2204 Summit Ave. in Kannapolis.

• China Grove

China Grove Community Building, 412 South Myrtle Ave.

• Cleveland

Cleveland Town Hall, 302, E Main St.

• Faith

Faith American Legion Building, 1015 Gantt St.

• Millford Hills County

The media center in West Rowan Middle School, 5925 Statesville Boulevard

• Granite Quarry

Granite Quarry Municipal Building, 105 S Long St.

• West Kannapolis

St. Johns Reformed Church, 901 North Main St.

• East Kannapolis

Jackson Park Elementary School, 1400 Jackson St.

• East Spencer

East Spencer Municipal Building, 105 S. Long St.

• Landis

Meeting room at the Rowan Public Library South Branch

• Rockwell

Rockwell American Legion Building, 8580 U.S. Highway 52

• Spencer

Meeting room of the Spencer Municipal Building

• Sumner

Meeting room of the Rowan County Agricultural Building

• West Ward II

Maupin Avenue Presbyterian Church, 100 Maupin Ave.

• West Ward I

Rowan Public Library Headquarters

• South Ward

Salisbury Civic Center on South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

• East Ward

Park Avenue Community Center, 632 Park Ave.

• West Innes

Know Middle School gym

• North Ward

City Park Recreational Building

• Milford Hills City

Isenberg Elementary School

• West Ward II

Miller Recreation Center

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.