Incumbent, newcomer take open seats

Hot election issues involved jobs, economy

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

MORGANTON -- Voters in Morganton's municipal elections ousted one City Council member Tuesday but kept another veteran in office.

Challenger Forrest Fleming, a retired corrections officer, and incumbent Larry Whisnant won four-year terms on the council.

Fleming beat 20-year City Council incumbent and retired warehouse manager Carl Evans Sr. for the open seat in District 2.

Fleming won with 53 percent of the votes compared to Evans' 47 percent, according to unofficial returns.

In District 1, Whisnant, a 12-year incumbent, defeated challenger Rob Gage. Whisnant won with 52 percent to Gage's 48 percent.

While the candidates focused on several issues during the race -- the location of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter, the environment, development downtown and the city-owned cable and electric systems -- the hottest topic revolved around jobs and creating a robust economy.

Whisnant, who served on the council for 12 years, and Evans, who was elected in 1986, argued that their years of experience and knowledge of current projects made them the best candidates.

But Gage, a graduate of Harvard University and UNC School of Law, and Fleming, who attended Western Carolina University and Livingstone College, advocated bringing a fresh perspective to city politics.

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