Charlotte’s new mayor is a Davidson grad Foxx Cheers went up around Davidson Tuesday night when Democrat Anthony Foxx was declared the winner over Republican John Lassiter in the Charlotte mayoral election. Mr. Foxx is a 1993 Davidson College graduate. He told The Charlotte Observer, “We’re going to pull Charlotte together.”

For those who voted, cable deal was an issue; some wonder: What happens to regionalism?

In recent years, officials in north Mecklenburg and south Iredell have begun working more closely on issues of regional interest, from transportation to regional planning to the joint purchase by Davidson and Mooresville of the local cable TV system. Mayors have played a big role in promoting that sense of regionalism. But now some in the region are wondering if that process can stay on track following Tuesday’s surprise results in Mooresville, where two-term Mayor Bill Thunberg was ousted by just 16 votes by a political newcomer who ran against Town Hall.

Chris Montgomery was elected Mooresville mayor with 1,063 votes, or 50.33 percent of the vote.  Mr. Thunberg got 1,047 votes, or 49.57 percent. (A recount is expected, the Mooresville Tribune reports.)

Mr. Montgomery, an advertising salesperson, argued during his campaign that Mooresville residents weren’t being heard. He said town officials have a condescending attitude toward citizens. He is a staunch opponent of the 2007 cable system purchase, and made that a key point in his campaign. In October, he told the Mooresville Tribune he thinks cable TV and internet service should be a private business.  “The people definitely didn’t want the town to be involved in purchasing a cable TV system. I think their voices were ignored,” he said.

Also Tuesday, longtime Mooresville Commissioner Frank Rader was trounced by challenger Rhett Dusenbury after a campaign that also hinged in part on the cable deal.  Mr. Dusenbury had 1,245 votes (60.8 percent) to Mr. Rader’s 795 (38.8 percent).

Mr. Dusenbury told the Mooresville Tribune last month that he was upset about the town’s taxes and water and sewer rates. But he said the purchase of the cable system was a “back breaker” that prompted him to run. Mr. Rader has been a proponent of the cable deal.

The cable deal was also an issue in the Davidson Town Board election, though not to the same degree as in Mooresville. A group of cable-purchase opponents in Davidson posted a website in October and asked candidates to fill out a questionnaire stating their views on the deal. (See DavidsonNews.net, Oct. 21, 2009,  “Critics seek to make cable an issue in Town Board race.”) Candidates differed over whether the purchase was a good idea and whether the towns eventually should seek to sell the system. But all agreed that at least for the foreseeable future, the towns must take a practical approach, focusing on growing and managing the system.

So should Mooresville’s vote be read as a mandate against the cable deal? It’s not clear. Voter turnout in the Mooresville precincts was less than 10 percent.

OTHER RESULTS

In other area races that Davidsonians were watching Tuesday night, Mayor Jeff Tarte is back for a second term in Cornelius. Like Mr. Thunberg, he has been active in regional issues. And Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain narrowly won re-election by defeating former commissioner Brian Sisson. Mayors Thunberg, Tarte and Swain, along with Davidson Mayor John Woods, have been working together over the past two years on a variety of issues. Their efforts led to formation of the Lake Norman Transportation Commission, which is giving the North Meck/South Iredell region a greater voice on road and transit issues.

Cornelius voters re-elected three incumbents (Jim Bensman, Dave Gilroy and Thurman Ross) to their Town Board, as well as newcomers Lynette Rinker and Chuck Travis.

In Huntersville, four incumbents were re-elected: Sarah McAulay, Charles Jeter, Ken Lucas and Ron Julian, along with newcomer Beth Danae Caulfield.

LINKS

Nov. 3, 2009, Mooresville Tribune, “Thunberg, Rader ousted in Mooresville.”

Election results for Iredell voting, including Mooresville mayor and town board.

Mecklenburg County election results.