The 2024 election cycle is barely over, but Burke County will have some more important decisions to make at the ballot box in 2025.
A total of five mayoral races are on tap in various municipalities, and a smattering of council/alderman races will be decided as well. The election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 4, with early voting open from Oct. 16 to Nov. 1.
Candidate filing will take place in July for the odd-year, non-partisan races, although dates for filing have not been set, according to Trent Price at the Burke Board of Elections.
Partisan races for the Burke Board of Commissioners and Board of Education highlighted last November’s election locally, but the county’s municipalities will take center stage this year.
Mayoral Races
The seats of incumbent mayors in Valdese (Charlie Watts), Connelly Springs (Carroll Turner), Glen Alpine (Michelle Lewis), Longview (Marla Thompson), and Rhodhiss (Allen Spencer) will be up for grabs this year.
Council/Aldermen RacesIn Morganton, terms will end for city council members Chris Hawkins (District 3) and Wendy Cato (District 4).
Three Valdese Town Council seats will be on the ballot. The terms of Rexana Lowman (Ward 3) and Glenn Harvey (Ward 1) will end in 2025. The Ward 2 seat, formerly held by Paul Mears, who resigned, will also be open.
In Connelly Springs, three alderman seats will be up for election, those occupied by incumbents Steven Diehm, Bobby Tomlinson, and Adam Greene.
In addition to the Glen Alpine mayoral election, candidates will vie for the three alderman seats currently held by Jim Frady, Sheila Perkins, and Jason Miller.
Two alderman seats will be up for grabs in Drexel as terms end for Scott Coe and Tim Franklin.
Rhodhiss will have two town council seats on the ballot. Mike Phillips and Joyce Karn currently hold those spots.
The Longview Town Council’s Ward 5 seat, occupied by Phyllis Pennington, will also be on the ballot, as will the Ward 5 seat (Burke County) on the Hickory City Council, currently held by David Zagaroli.
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