July 9.  Woody Washam ​has filed to run for fifth term ​as mayor of Cornelius​.​ The former town commissioner, longtime banker and church organist ​filed appeared at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections with four out of five sitting commissioners who also filed to run for re-election:

—Robert Carney

—Susan Johnson

—Micheal Osborne

—Todd Sansbury

A fifth incumbent, Scott Higgins, has not yet decided about running again. He supported Denis Bilodeau’s campaign for mayor two years ago—which Bilodeau lost by five votes.

Bilodeau, a three-time former commissioner, filed to run for mayor on Monday.

​Background

The mayor is the leader of the five-member board but only votes to break ties. He or she commands the premier bully pulpit in town and also sets the agenda for the board. All seats are for two years and are non-partisan.

Eight years ago Washam replaced former Mayor Chuck Travis, who withstood a 5-0 no-confidence vote in 2016, after traveling to Raleigh to show support for the Cintra-NCDOT toll plan on I-77.

Candidate filing for the municipal elections this fall opened Monday, July 7 and will run through Friday, July 18 at noon.