Local News - July 2003

Huitt and Hovis will seek reelection to city posts

Published July 7, 2003

By JEREMY ASHTON, LTN Staff Writer

The filing period for Lincolnton City Council elections began Monday morning with two of the three incumbents filing for re-election.

The mayor’s seat and the seats for wards II and IV are open in November.

Mayor Bobby Huitt and Councilman Larry Mac Hovis of Ward IV were in the Board of Elections office early Monday to declare their candidacies.

Councilman Les Cloninger of Ward II is expected to file either late Monday or early Tuesday.

All three candidates are Democrats, as are the rest of the council members.

By filing at the same time, Huitt and Hovis demonstrated some of the unity they say has existed on the council since they’ve been in office.

“This council and mayor have had a good relationship,” Hovis said.

Huitt, 76, is running for his third two-year term as mayor. Prior to taking the top elected office in Lincolnton, he served 13 years as a councilman.

“I just want to continue what we’ve already got in progress,” he said.

During Huitt’s time as mayor, the city updated the water plant, has repaired roads and sidewalks and continues work on the sewer plant.

All of those projects have been accomplished while keeping the tax rate steady, Huitt said.

Huitt also pointed to an improved relationship between City Council and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.

“I just hope the city will back us again,” Huitt said.

Hovis, 63, is running for his third four-year term representing Ward IV.

Hovis said he doesn’t see any major issues in the campaign and is just “running on my record.”

“Since I’ve been on term, the city’s been pretty progressive,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of things.”

In addition to the initiatives Huitt named, Hovis listed the expansion of the cemetery, the lengthening of the Rail Trail and the building of Highland Park as projects the council has done that he’s particularly proud of.

Hovis noted that the city is in the process of upgrading City Hall and working with the state to alleviate traffic problems — two projects he wants to see completed.

Candidates have until Aug. 1 to file with the Board of Elections, located on the second floor of the Citizens Center.

The filing fee is $48 for mayor and $36 for City Council.

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Staff Writer Jeremy Ashton can be reached at 704-735-3031 or jashton@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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