Bilodeau elected mayor as Washam’s run comes to an end
Nov. 5. By Dave Vieser. Two years ago, Denis Bilodeau came within five votes of upsetting incumbent Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam. This year there was no doubt, as he rode to victory on the strength of a 508-vote margin.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be the next mayor of the great town of Cornelius,” said Bilodeau. “I view this election as a mandate to make improvements in traffic flow and infrastructure. Thank you to all that voted in record numbers.”
Bilodeau
Though the results are unofficial there is little doubt that a recount will be needed, as it was in 2023. Bilodeau received 3,181 votes to Washam’s 2,673 votes. In total, 7,625 votes were cast in this election, up from 5,521 votes two years ago.
The mayor-elect brings extensive experience to the post, including prior terms as a town commissioner as well as mayor pro tem. He has pledged to work on traffic issues, which were a major concern expressed by voters prior to the election.
Bilodeau will preside over a town board with whom he is very familiar, having previously served with four of them as a commissioner from 2021 to 2023.
For Washam, the election results mean the end of an eight-year run as mayor of Cornelius.
“I’m grateful for all the support I have received over many years as an elected official,” he said. “It has been an honor to serve my town. I wish our new board and mayor nothing but the best in the years ahead.”
Speaking this morning over the phone, newly-elected Mayor Pro Tem Michael Osborne was grateful for Washam’s service over the years.
“We know how much Woody loves being mayor and we respect the amount of work that he has put into the town over the years,” he said. “He cares a great deal about Cornelius and we appreciate everything he has done.”
Election results (unofficial, will be certified Nov. 14)
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denis P. Bilodeau | N/A | 3,181 | 43.79% |
| Woody Washam, Jr. | N/A | 2,673 | 36.79% |
| Kenny Campbell | N/A | 1,391 | 19.15% |
17 Comments
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CONGRATULATIONS Denis!
Couldn’t be happier as a resident of Cornelius. Denis will be a great Mayor!
I am happy with the results of the election. I hope we can curb the building of residential developments and focus more on road improvements. The removal of trees has caused rain water to carry more fertilizer to the lake. This is why we have the algae problem.
Great to see the comments section turned back on by Cornelius Today. I think we missed out on a lot of community perspective when comments were turned off during the election.
We don’t turn off comments on new posts, they are only turned off after 20 days. There is, however, an automated filter that filters out profanity or comments it deems unsuitable for children. Comments will go up automatically as long as you’ve commented before, and first time commenters are held for our approval.
Finally! Woody never saw a multi unit tree killing project he didn’t love. Hopefully Bilodeau gets Cornelius back into being a beautiful high end suburb. Not the crap stalled project ugly project suburb it has been the last 4+ years.
My wife and I have lived here going in 3 months. The Cornelius Today issue with extensive information about the candidates was very helpful to me. Each candidate seemed well qualified. But I leaned to the comments by Mr. Bilodeau. I experienced my first North Carolina voting activity today and I was happy to see the person I voted for won! Hopefully there will he more attention to road concerns and uncontrolled growth.
Now get it done, Denis! Keep your promises, unlike most of your people around here. And stop the tree cutting and stop the development until they get the infrastructure fixed or prepared for the future.
I second that!!!!!
Thank God! Woody’s reign of endless overdevelopment is over.
Congratulations to him. He definitely got a push from the hundreds of residents in the neighborhoods along Nantz Rd. Let’s see if he does what he says and helps prevent the rezoning and commercial development very much out of place on a two lane residential neighborhood where we already have park traffic to contend with. Hopefully he does enough to get Worst Catawba expanded as one two-lane north/south route west of 77 is obviously not handling traffic demands now let alone when the Mill Wright fills with hundreds of tenants and Alexander Farms is inevitably developed. As a former Charlotte resident I know a light rail train will do nothing to ease traffic snarls. Cornelius residents need options, not diverging diamonds and roundabouts so maybe plan on extending Chartown Rd.
II do believe a candidates wife can help him! Your wife impressed me at the polls. I read up on what each candidate stood for. I agreed with you the most! Congratulations !
Congratulations Denis!! You’re certainly the right man for the job!! So happy for you and happy to not only call you mayor but also friend!! Any way I can help please let me know!!!
If Woody is wondering why 2 out of 3 Cornelius Citizens voted for a change, he doesn’t have to look far for at least one of the top reasons.
Sunset Cove proposal on Nantz Rd.
Woody was given the opportunity to voice dissent, but he chose to back the project and lit a fire he did not see coming. The Concerned Citizens of Cornelius came together and quickly backed the only candidate willing to say no to unchecked development – Denis.
Sunset Cove is not just a threat to Nantz Rd. It’s an open threat to every inch of lake shore in Cornelius where developers want to come in and turn Cornelius into a commercial zoo. If the precedence is set, Torrence Chapel and Bethel Church will be the next targets to convert residential properties into commercial space on the lake.
The Concerned Citizens of Cornelius will continue to fight unchecked development in Cornelius and support candidates that stand up for what is best for the Citizens of Cornelius.
Congratulations, Mr Bilodeau! Prayers have been answered and you have finished the race with dignity!
Now, “ let’s giterdun”!
All talk, Mayor actually has no say so in what goes on in Cornelius politics. No vote, just a figure head that may or may not help guide.
Town manager actually has more power than mayor. Cornelius is a council-manager form of government. Let the games begin!
Not certain how many people understand this. The Mayor position succeeds because of the ability of the person in that office to build relationships with adjoining communities, the county and the state. Mayor Washam has much to be proud of for the relationships that he built. His dedication to his hometown is unmatched.
I certainly hope that Mr. Bilodeau furthers those relationships because they are critical him being able to meet the many, many promises he made. I hope he does and wish him success.