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At-large field grows to 7

The field of four candidates seeking Mooresville's at-large commissioner seat just grew to seven. 


Robert “Skip” Alexander, Bobby Compton and David Roueche will join Raymond R. Gordner III, Dawn Huston, James Snyder and William H. Washburn II on the Oct. 11 primary ballot. The two top vote getters in that election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.


Alexander ran unsuccessfully for Iredell County Sheriff last year, and David Roueche ran  unsuccessfully in 2005 for the Town of Mooresville's Ward 4 seat. 


The at-large seat is currently occupied by Miles Atkins who is running for mayor. Also on the ballot for mayor is Jared Esselman. 


Eddie Dingler will challenge incumbent Mitch Abraham for commissioner of Ward 1, while Billy Hendrix will vie against incumbent Thurman Houston in Ward 2.


Filing ends tomorrow at noon. 

It's a race!

Mooresville's town board will have a race in every seat up for election this year. 

Eddie Dingler of Main Street filed today to run against incumbent Mitch Abraham for Commissioner of Ward 1.

This comes a day after Billy Hendrix filed to run against incumbent Thurman Houston in Ward 2.

So far, four candidates - Raymond R. Gordner III, Dawn Huston, William H. Washburn III and James Snyder - have filed for the board's at-large seat which is being vacated by Miles Atkins. Atkins and political newcomer Jared Esselman will vie for the mayor's seat.  

The four candidates for the at-large seat will force a primary in that race; the primary will be held Oct. 11. The two top vote getters in that election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.  Filing ends Aug. 12.


Commissioners serve four year terms while the mayor's term is two years.

Ward 2 has a race

A second candidate has filed to run for the Ward 2 seat on Mooresville's town board.

Billy Hendrix of Emerson Drive filed to run for the seat earlier today, according to the Iredell County Elections Office. Hendrix is challenging incumbent Thurman Houston's bid for re-election.

Ward 1 incumbent Mitch Abraham, as of the close of business today, is running unopposed for his seat. Filing ends Aug. 12.

So far, four candidates - Raymond R. Gordner III, Dawn Huston, William H. Washburn III and James Snyder - have filed for the board's at-large seat which is being vacated by Miles Atkins. Atkins and political newcomer Jared Esselman will vie for the mayor's seat.  

The four candidates for the at-large seat will force a primary in that race; the primary will be held Oct. 11. The two top vote getters in that election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election. 

Fourth candidate joins at-large race

A fourth name has been added to the list of candidates seeking the at-large seat on Mooresville's town board.

Raymond R. Gordner III filed Tuesday afternoon at the Iredell County Elections Office.

He joins three other candidates - Dawn Huston, William H. Washburn II and James Snyder - in the race for the at-large seat. A primary will be held Oct. 11 to narrow the field to the two top vote getters. Those two candidates will then vie for the seat in the Nov. 8 general election.

Mooresville's town board has two at-large seats but only one is up for election this year. The seat is currently being occupied by Miles Atkins who is running for mayor. Also running for mayor: Jared Esselman.

The seats for commissioners of Wards 1 and 2 are also up for election this year. So far, incumbents Mitch Abraham and Thurman Houston (respectively) have filed for re-election and are running unopposed.

The filing period ends Aug. 12 at noon.

Family fun in downtown Mooresville tonight

Join the Mooresville Police Department today as it hosts "National Night Out," an organized event that aims to unite neighborhoods, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses and local officials in the fight against crime. 

Main Street will close to traffic between Moore and Iredell avenues between 5-9 p.m. tonight. The free event, centered in front of the Charles Mack Citizens Center, will feature free food, games and giveaways, face painting, children identification kits, martial-arts demonstrations by Mangan Martial Arts and more. 

If you can't make it downtown, the police department asks that you turn on your porch lights and/or enjoy some time outdoors with your neighbors to show your support for a crime-free community. 

Esselman kicks off mayoral campaign

Jared Esselman wants to be your mayor, Mooresville.

"Being in a position of authority does not make a leader; it just means you're in charge," Esselman said to a crowd of about 100 at his official campaign kick-off on Saturday in the Mooresville High School ampitheatre.

A 1998 graduate of Mooresville High School, Esselman, 31, said, "You have helped make me the man I am today, and I want to give back."

Esselman shakes hands with those who attended his campaign kick-off on Saturday

Esselman joined the U.S. Air Force after 9/11, serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He went on to graduate from the College of Charleston in 2009, earning his BA in political science then received his masters in public policy from Harvard University just this year.

"Mooresville students are receiving the kind of education is takes to get to Harvard," Esselman said Saturday. "Education is the jewel of our city."

Noting Site Selection magazine's naming of Mooresville the past two years as "the best place to build and expand a business," Esselman said: "We have potential; we just have to realize it. We have a wonderful, vibrant, diverse community. 

"Unfortunately, we also have a divided community," he said. "I will work to heal that divide."

Esselman did not expound on what he considers the community's "divide." While his platform covers strengthening education, the economy and the community, he did not mention the town's MI-Connection cable system on Saturday. The struggling system is sure to be a hot topic in local political campaigns leading up to the Nov. 8 election, and Esselman has MI-Connection listed on his website as one of the top issues being reported to him by Mooresville residents.

Esselman did, however, note Mooresville Mayor Chris Montgomery's presence as a special guest at the campaign kick-off on Saturday. Referring to the exposure earlier this year of the mayor's public e-mails to a woman who is not his wife, Esselman said: "I know how you feel about our mayor, and I understand." However, he said people should at least respect Montgomery's courage in facing family, neighbors and himself in the aftermath of the scandal.

"It takes courage and passion to run for mayor," Esselman said. "My passion is serving people and investing in people because you invested in me."

Esselman's friend and former classmate, Lt. Comm. Joe Cousins, caught Esselman supporters' a little off-guard Saturday when he accidentally introduced Esselman as a gubernatorial candidate. Members of the audience chuckled, some of them responding, “Not yet!”

“One thing at a time,” Cousins replied with a smile.

Cousins, who flew to Mooresville from Washington, DC for the mayor-hopeful's official announcement, said while researching Mooresville, he was bothered to see that 'half the (government) meeting notes are closed.' He said government transparency is important to him and to Esselman.

For more on Esselman and his campaign, visit www.jaredesselman.com.