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An important race remains
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Published: October 11, 2009
Statesville voters have a little unfinished business following last week's municipal elections.
City Councilman John Gregory, who finished second in a six-candidate race for two seats, will square off against third-place finisher Gene Houpe in a run-off election.
As disappointing as the 11 percent turnout in this month's elections was, a double-digit turnout in the run-off would exceed most expectations. It's the only race on the ballot.
But it's an important race nonetheless.
Gregory's most recent term on the council has been marked by his unremarkable voting record and numerous absences related to health issues.
In the recent candidates forum, he could not name a single action the council had taken that he disagreed with.
That might earn Gregory enough votes to secure another term. Based on the other election results, most city voters are pretty happy with the status quo.
But it also gives Houpe an opening to win the support of voters who opposed the council's decisions to allow an asphalt plant to be built near a residential neighborhood, to ban bike riding and skateboarding downtown and to spend taxpayer money on a water park and recreation center.
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