From left; Woody Washam, Denis Bilodeau and Kenny Campbell

Sept. 10. Cornelius is expected to have a competitive mayoral race this election cycle with three candidates registering to run. Our September print issue features a Q&A with all three that we’ll break down into two parts this week.

What should voters know about you?

Woody Washam– Preserving a high quality of life in our town remains the most important factor in this election. As a native and lifelong resident, I am devoted to ensuring Cornelius remains the town we all love.  The incumbent commissioners and I work well together to keep this at the forefront of our minds as we address important town issues.  It’s awesome that we have this great team, supporting each other in this election, as we move our town forward.  Proven leadership and experience supported by existing relationships at every level of government, including our neighboring towns, will allow us to hit the ground running.

Kenny Campbell– What sets me apart from the other candidates is that I bring a fresh energy and perspective to the local government here in Cornelius. I’ve been in leadership for the last 20 years, and over that time I’ve helped solve a lot of problems and got a lot of stuff done. At 41, I’m not a career politician – I’m a neighbor and a small business owner who understands the challenges and opportunities Cornelius faces. If elected, I’m excited to tackle our most pressing issues and helping Cornelius become an even better place to live and raise a family.

Denis Bilodeau– As a 24-year resident of Cornelius, I care deeply about our town. I raised my family here and built a successful business headquartered in the community. I bring proven leadership through years of service with homeowners associations, nonprofits, and our Town Board. Citizens have voiced concerns about traffic congestion and unchecked growth, which continue to impact our quality of life. I am prepared to bring urgency, accountability, and focus to these challenges. Now recently retired, I have the time, energy, and commitment to serve full-time. As mayor, I will work hard to ensure Cornelius remains a place we’re proud of.

What’s your philosophy on development and growth in Cornelius?

Bilodeau–The mayor plays a key role in shaping development and growth, often serving as the first point of contact for developers. As mayor, I will collaborate closely with the town board and staff to evaluate proposals early in the process. I will oppose projects that strain traffic and infrastructure, lack meaningful commercial space, fail to include needed road improvements, or offer minimal green space preservation. With many approved projects still incomplete, it’s critical that we proceed with caution. Moving forward, we must be highly selective and prioritize resident feedback to ensure thoughtful, balanced growth that serves the long-term interests of Cornelius.

Campbell– I believe growth and development should benefit our community, and not just developers. Cornelius is full of charm and I want to make sure we don’t lose that as we grow. Yes, development is coming whether we like it or not, but we get to decide how it happens. I want to see smart growth that actually improves things: better roads and infrastructure, support for our local businesses, more affordable housing options especially in areas like Smithville, and plenty of green space for families to enjoy. We can grow in a way that makes Cornelius even better.

Washam– Growth should align with the wishes of a clear majority of our citizens. I share our citizens’ belief in dramatically slowing residential overdevelopment while encouraging smart commercial and industrial growth where there are benefits to the community. No more apartments should be considered. This approach is why our town’s population has only grown an average of 0.4% over the last 3 years. Additionally, I will continue working on recruiting popular businesses that our citizens want, like Trader Joe’s. I also want employment opportunities available for our citizens, especially in places where people can walk to work.

What could you do as mayor to assure road projects will happen as projected?

Campbell– When it comes to our roads, I think we’re all tired of promises that don’t get kept and how slow things move. As mayor, I’ll make sure you always know what’s happening with road projects. I’ll put together a clear plan that shows what we’re working on over the next few years, update everyone monthly on where things stand, and work directly with NCDOT and our neighboring towns to get projects funded and finished. Bottom line: no more wondering if that road project is actually going to happen. You’ll know what’s funded, what’s being built, and what’s coming next.

Bilodeau– Several major NCDOT projects in Cornelius are already planned through the Charlotte Regional Transportation Organization. As mayor, I will work alongside other Lake Norman mayors to advocate for timely completion of critical road projects in North Mecklenburg. I will also urge our town board to reassess our financial capacity to fund town-managed road improvements that can be implemented quickly to ease traffic congestion. Our Transportation Advisory Board has identified over 50 local projects that address key mobility issues. It’s time to move forward—action on these recommendations is long overdue and essential to improving daily travel for our residents.

Washam– With 3 major road projects under contract and 3 more going under contract before spring of 2026, I have demonstrated my ability to ensure our road projects are high-priority projects for NCDOT and that they happen as projected. When I became Mayor, Cornelius had 0 approved NCDOT road projects. We now have 13. This is a direct result of hard work by myself, our commissioners and town staff. We cannot go backwards. This requires proven leadership and relationships otherwise these projects could be in jeopardy. This is why I have daily conversations with other local elected officials, NCDOT, and state legislators.

Does the fire department need to transition to a full department with career firefighters to serve the community?

Washam– Fire Department transition is absolutely a requirement for keeping our community and our citizens safe.  The model we enjoyed for many years is out of date and will no longer work to serve our town.  Finding the part-time force and volunteers necessary to keep our town and our citizens safe, as we have done in the past, is becoming more difficult every day.  Therefore, we must transition to a town fire department with career full-time firefighters. I am strongly in favor of this transition, and look forward to improved training, development and coordination at all levels.

Campbell– Our firefighters do incredible work. Cornelius is growing fast, which means our fire department needs to grow and evolve as well. I think moving towards more full-time firefighters is a great way to honor those that protect us while keeping up with the needs of our community. As mayor, I’ll make sure we’re prioritizing funding our fire department so our response time remains high. I think in the immediate future a hybrid model of volunteers alongside paid staff makes sense, while continuing to support the department with the training and equipment they need to keep our community safe.

Bilodeau– Yes, transitioning to full-time firefighters is essential to attract and retain top talent. The part-time staffing model is no longer sustainable for meeting the growing demands of our community. Chief Barbee has done an excellent job managing this shift gradually over the past few years, minimizing sudden budget impacts while actively pursuing grant funding. Fully trained, professional firefighters bring the expertise and reliability needed to uphold our town’s high fire protection standards. This proactive approach ensures we maintain strong emergency response capabilities while planning responsibly for the future of public safety in Cornelius.

Two years ago, the voters approved $20M in Park Bonds. Did you support the bond, do you still, and how would you spend those dollars?

Bilodeau– As a former park commissioner, I’ve consistently supported enhancing park amenities and remain in favor of the bond. I encourage its use for projects identified in the 2024 Park Master Plan. A top priority should be strategic land purchases for future use, including green space, greenway connections, and multi-use paths. I also recommend allocating funds to improve Smithville Park by removing the chain link fence and upgrading the entrance. A monument and improved design would better represent this important gateway to downtown, creating a more welcoming and attractive community space that reflects our town’s long-term vision and values.

Washam– I strongly supported and continue to support the Park Bonds.  They were badly needed to expand our green space and greenways that are part of our Emerald Necklace, (a 13.1-mile system which is now 85% complete), and provide park maintenance funding.  Our parks are one of our town’s crown jewels and is highly utilized by our citizens. They are a point of light for our town, and I am committed to ensuring our parks remain among the best in our state, and that when building new parks and rec facilities, we listen to our citizens and prioritize their needs.

Campbell– I voted for the $20 million Park Bond because I think investing in our green spaces benefits all Cornelius residents – and I’m still a supporter. We need safe places where parents can take kids and neighbors can spend time together. The projects I support are a new recreation center, expanding tennis and pickleball courts, a new multi-purpose lighted field, restrooms, a 5k trail, updating our disc golf course, and extending our greenways. I think these are all great ways to invest in the health and well-being of our residents, and includes a wide variety of activities.

Will you be supporting the one cent county sales tax increase and what is your opinion on the transit plan?

Campbell– Yes I support the one cent county sales tax increase – traffic congestion is an issue we’re all effected by, and the money from this tax will go directly to our transit needs. In the first year alone, Cornelius is estimated to receive $5.75 million in new road funding, and that’s projected to grow every year. I support expanding bike lanes, widening roads, and increasing the walkability of the town via updating sidewalks and crosswalks. The regional plan includes a proposed rail line that would connect Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and Uptown Charlotte which I support as well.

Bilodeau– For over 20 years, we’ve paid a half-cent sales tax with limited benefit. Now, a permanent increase to 1.5 cents, combined with high tolls and subsidies for micro transit, feels burdensome. While the PAVE Act offers a major opportunity to secure transportation funding, we must proceed carefully. I’m researching solutions for the rail crossing near Bailey Road schools and the congestion expected at the future downtown train station. These are critical concerns. I urge everyone to thoughtfully weigh the pros and cons before supporting this measure to ensure it truly serves our community without causing undue hardship.

Washam– As a current elected official, I cannot express support for or against the Sales Tax.  I have worked on the transit plan for five years and worked hard for this to be placed in the voters’ hands.  It is their decision to make. My hope is that they will fully educate themselves on the facts prior to voting.  We do provide a website that can be accessed through Cornelius.org for voters to review all the facts about what is being proposed.  I am available to answer questions or provide more details.

What, if anything, do you believe should be done to address affordable housing?

Washam– Affordable housing is a nationwide issue, and Cornelius is no exception.  This is why I created the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force which led to the formation of the Cornelius Community Development Corporation (now Lake Norman CDC and initially funded by the town). The CDC has supported 83 people, mostly Baby Boomers, through programs like Rental Bridge, Critical Home Repair, and Senior Rental Relief. I’ve also backed the Smithville Community Coalition with funding, infrastructure and other resources for redevelopment during my tenure as mayor. My commitment to these critical efforts will continue.

Campbell– Affordable housing is important because with less and less affordable places to live here in Cornelius, we’re seeing the people who serve our community like our police officers, fire fighters, nurses, and teachers being forced to find places to live outside of Cornelius. I also support the revitalization of Smithville, including new affordable housing being built to protect against gentrification and displacement. As mayor, I’ll work towards solutions that help teachers, first responders, and existing families to continue to live here, while making sure new development matches the charm and character of Cornelius.

Bilodeau– Affordable housing should be addressed as a regional issue across the Lake Norman area. With only 13 square miles, Cornelius cannot tackle this challenge alone. The Lake Norman Community Development Corporation (LKN CDC) is a promising initiative, but it needs broader support from neighboring towns to be truly effective. Currently, it is primarily driven by Cornelius. As mayor, I will collaborate with other Lake Norman mayors to unify our efforts and strengthen regional participation in the LKN CDC. Together, we can develop more impactful and sustainable solutions to meet the housing needs of our entire region.

What will you do to promote conserving trees and green space amid development?

Bilodeau– Conservation should be an integral part of all development proposals to help preserve the natural character of our community as we grow. I believe developers should be required to incorporate green space, tree preservation, and environmental protection into their plans. In addition, I will strongly advocate for using park bond funds to support land banking—strategically acquiring property now for future parks, greenways, and open space. This forward-thinking approach ensures we preserve valuable land before it’s lost to development and keeps our long-term vision focused on a balanced, livable community for generations to come.

Washam– Trees and green space are crucial to a community and a small town like ours.  It adds to our beauty and small-town charm.  The acquisition of additional green space will be a very important factor for the future.  With the massive amount of road projects happening, tree conservation becomes more difficult, and many times is out of our control.  However, I pledge to work closely with NCDOT to minimize tree removal and ensure replenishment.  The board and I can and should control green space and tree canopy in any development that might occur in the future.

Campbell– As mayor I’ll push for stronger tree preservation ordinances, along with requiring developers to include meaningful green space in all new projects. I also support the expansion of our parks and greenway network – Cornelius is a beautiful place to live and I plan on making significant efforts to keep it that way.

Check back later this week for part two of our Q&A.

Voting day: Tuesday, November 4

Early voting: Cornelius town hall hosts one of the early voting poll sites in Mecklenburg County. Voting begins October 16 and ends November 1.