Local elections present familiar faces, newcomers

Nearly 80% of the county’s registered voters submitted a ballot

Voters in Locust, NC, submitted their ballots at Locust Elementary School's gymnasium (photo by SCJ)

ALBEMARLE — Last week, voters in Stanly County made their opinions known in the ballot box, shaping many local elections within the county’s municipalities.

In Albemarle, Mayor Ronnie Michael won his unopposed reelection bid, taking 95.53% of the vote — compared to the 4.47% for write-in candidates — as the former Albemarle police chief kept his city’s mayoral seat that he’s held since 2013.

On the Albemarle City Council, At-Large incumbents Martha Sue Hall (39.37%) and Benton Dry (24.77%) retained their two available seats, besting opponents Bob Gruver (21.19%) and Duke Furr (13.43%); returning Councilmembers Dexter Townsend (District 1) and Bill Aldridge (District 3) ran uncontested races.

“Thank you for believing in me, believing in the process, staying the course, voting for the first time, giving of your time and energy to our campaign, and being in my village,” Hall wrote in a post-election statement on social media. “Now back to being united and being a community in our great city of Albemarle! I am so humbled.”

In Badin, Gary Rife (32.02%) and incumbent Demar Huntley (30.87%) won the town council’s two available At-Large seats, overtaking Sawyer Wyrick (23.12%) and Avonda Wilson (12.95%).

On the western end of the county, Locust Mayor Steve Huber (uncontested) was reelected, while returners Mike Haigler (20.37%), Larry Baucom (20.36%), Rusty Efird (19.89%), and newcomer De Dee Nathan (12.33%) — a former Olympian — won the four open City Council seats.

Jeff Claiborne (10.53%), Mario Miller (8.88%), and Joseph Abbatiello (6.60%) each came up short in the council race.

“Thank you all again for the support and votes. I really appreciate it,” Haigler wrote on Nov. 6. “So in keeping in line with my promise to keep you informed and involved, let’s get back to work.”

Incumbents Jamie Hammill (53.89%) and Jeff Watson (41.32%) were elected to the Misenheimer Village Council in their uncontested races.

Facing no challengers, incumbent Richard Kimmer (33.20%), Bob Loflin Jr. (32.16%), and incumbent Bill Peak (31.51%) held successful Town of New London Board of Commissioners bids.

In Norwood, Linda Campbell (unopposed) was elected for another term as mayor; write-in candidates garnered 14.56% of the vote.

“Thanks for all the support, Norwood,” Campbell wrote in a social media statement. “I am excited to serve my community for another four years. We have some exciting projects to finish and more to get to work on!”

On the Norwood Town Council, incumbents James Lilly (49.13%) and Robbie Cohen (46.04%) were reelected to their current positions.

Oakboro’s race for town mayor was the closest mayoral race in the county, as former fire chief Rodney Eury (59.65%) came out on top over incumbent Chris Huneycutt (38.44%).

“I wish the best to the new board when they begin in January 2025,” Huneycutt conceded in an online post. “I will continue to be involved in supporting our town and I hope everyone will. To the current board members, I appreciate all you have done and continue to do.”

In a five-way race for Oakboro’s two open board of commissioners seats, incumbent Joey Carpenter (28.91%) and Fred Smith (21.62%) claimed the two available spots, besting Lisa Cratty (19.12%), Renee Goodman Watkins (16.96%), and Lanny Hathcock (12.08%).

Over in Red Cross, three fresh faces — Lionel Hahn (mayor), Barbara Carpenter (town council), and Millie Steed (town council) — each won their uncontested races.

For the Richfield Board of Commissioners, incumbents Barry Byrd (25.98%), Christy NeCaise (28.56%), and newcomer Mike Beaver (24.58%) won the four-way races for three seats, slightly edging out Deanette Russell (21.35%).

In Stanfield, Jerry Williams (33.69%), Karen Faye Love (33.52%), and Andrew W. Cave (30.34%) won their unopposed races for the town’s board of commissioners.