Bradford, Summitt elected to Cleveland board; Five win in Faith

Published 11:32 pm Wednesday, November 6, 2019

CLEVELAND – John Bradford and Travis Summitt on Tuesday were both elected to four-year terms to the town of Cleveland’s Board of Commissioners.

Bradford received with 51 votes, 32.48% of votes, while Summitt won a seat with 43 votes, 27.39%. Bryan Little was the third of three candidates, receiving 24.84% of total votes. Pat Phifer also was elected Cleveland mayor in an uncontested race.

“I’m looking forward to making the town of Cleveland a better place, improving the town, sprucing up our town more through infrastructure, making the town more presentable and elevating the aesthetics of our town,” Bradford said.

Bradford said he plans to help keep the town moving “nice and smoothly.”

He said his first reactions to winning were being glad, relieved and happy.

“I felt like whatever happened, happened, and I just rolled with the punches,” Bradford said. “I didn’t want to lose. However, you never know what the future is going to bring.”

Bradford, who has served three terms, said his campaign strategy was spreading his message by word of mouth.

He says that the 2019 town board will be sworn in “at the first of the year.”

Little responded to the results in a phone interview with The Salisbury Post.

“The best people were voted in for this year’s election. I look forward to seeing what happens next year and I look forward to seeing what happens next time,” he said. “I don’t have any problems with the results. Everyone voted the way they wanted to.”

Little says he plans to stay involved in the Cleveland Planning and Zoning Board as well as the Lion’s Club and looks forward to continuing to enjoy his overall involvement within the Cleveland community.

Summitt was unavailable for a response at the time of deadline.

Elsewhere in Rowan County on Tuesday, C.J. Moody, Randall Barger, Gary Gardner, Brian G. Campbell and Matt Lyerly all were elected in what was a non-competitive race for town of Faith Board of Alderman. Tradition in Faith is that the top vote-getter, Moody, would become mayor.