EAST SPENCER — If elected in November, Otis Gibson will be completing his fourth term on the East Spencer Board of Aldermen. Gibson, who is an advocate for children, hopes to continue the projects that the current board has begun, including renovations at Royal Giants Park.

Gibson was instrumental in getting funding for the summer camps held at the park for the last couple of years. He also personally donated money and construction time to building a picnic shelter at the park.

“We are in the process of doing a revitalization of the park, and I would love to see my effort that I have put in be completed. I want to see it up and running successfully,” he said.

Gibson said he’d like to see more community involvement in the planning of activities and decisions on matters that affect the town and its people.

“If we can come together with this project as a community, we will be successful. We can stop talking about and do it. We need all of the help we can possibly get to complete that project,” he said.

Gibson also wants to see the Gateway Plan come to fruition. The plan is designed to boost economic development in and around Interstate 85 at Exit 79 and Andrews Street, located just off the interstate. Andrews Street connects East Spencer to the interstate.

Development of the plan began in the summer of 2014 with discussion of the possibilities for a convenience store similar to Sheetz, a bank, a drugstore, fast-food restaurant or casual dining restaurant, a department store, and a hotel similar to Marriott.

Gibson is a retired school teacher for the Washington, D.C. public schools. He is a graduate of George Washington Carver High School in Kannapolis and Winston-Salem State University, and he has studied at a number of academic institutions including Howard University.

He previously served as mayor pro tem. He has two children, Mia Gibson-Campbell and Shaundria Gibson. He also has three grandchildren.

Other candidates for elected office in East Spencer are Tony Hilllian, Phronice Johnson, Jamilla Kennedy, Douglas Holmes, James Cowan, Teon Robinson and Barbara Mallett.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.