Foreground: Michele Miller Houck, Commissioner Mike Miltich; background Carolyn Zimmerman, Lois Watson
Oct. 21. By Dave Yochum. Candidates are lined up outside Cornelius Town Hall to meet and greet, kiss hands and shake babies—or is it the other way around? It’s early voting, when you can see candidates deal with the public up close and personal.
It’s a Rorschach test for intestinal fortitude.
1. Presumably only dedicated citizens are voting now, in an off-year election, and they’ve already made up their minds.
2. Citizens from across Mecklenburg County can vote here, so the chances of Cornelius candidates waylaying a Cornelius citizen are maybe 50-50.
3. Lots of would-be voters hunch their shoulders and look straight ahead when they run the gauntlet.
4. Poll workers have their own set of rules about politicking—you don’t want to cross the Mecklenburg Board of Elections right now.
5. You never know what the weather will bring; it’s October in North Carolina.
“This is the hardest part, whether it’s in the cold, the rain or at night,” said one experienced campaigner. “I don’t like this.”
It’s not bad if you don’t mind being on your feet nine hours. Of course, some candidates have friends and family standing in for them.
At 10 am Jane Campbell, a town board commissioner from Davidson, was camped out with her brochures under a street light at Cornelius Town Hall so she’ll be in a good light when darkness falls. Other candidates have donuts for when hunger strikes.
For the most part, Democrats don’t engage very much with Republicans, even though local elections are non-partisan.
Cornelius voters are selecting all five commissioners for the Town Board out of a field of seven candidates. Incumbent Mayor Woody Washam is running unopposed. Ava Callender’s name appears on the ballot in Cornelius, but she has dropped out of the race.
Three at-large seats on the CMS School Board are up for grabs. A total of 13 candidates are running.
Voters will also pass judgment on a referendum to raise the Mecklenburg County sales tax by .25 cents. If approved, this quarter-cent sales tax would provide approximately $50 million annually for parks, arts, and education. Forces in favor of the new tax have raised more than $1 million so far. The tax hike is the most controversial issue on the ballot, dividing people who normally agree.
Voters will also pass judgment on a referendum to raise the Mecklenburg County sales tax by .25 cents. If approved, this quarter-cent sales tax would provide approximately $50 million annually for parks, arts, and education.
Residents from any precinct—and any town in Mecklenburg—can vote in Cornelius during early voting.
Election Day this year is Tuesday Nov. 5, and polls in Cornelius will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. There are four polling places on Election Day: Community in Church Lutheran Church, 7621 Norman Island Drive; Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road; Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, and Cornelius Town Hall.
VOTING MONTAGE: JANE CAMPBELL OF DAVIDSON, BOTTOM RIGHT
