The new commissioners take their oaths of office. From left: Dave Gilroy, Lynette Rinker, John Bradford and Jeff Hare. (Christina Ritchie Rogers / CorneliusNews.net)

The Cornelius Board of Commissioners on Monday recognized outgoing commissioners Thurman Ross and Jim Bensman, and swore in commissioners Lynette Rinker, Dave Gilroy, Jeff Hare and John Bradford, who were elected to the board Nov. 8. Commissioner Chuck Travis also won a seat on the board, but was unable to attend Monday’s meeting and will be sworn in at the Dec. 19 board meeting. Also on Monday, Mayor Jeff Tarte, who ran unopposed, was sworn in for his third term in office.  Read the full story

The Cornelius Board of Commissioners on Monday will recognize outgoing commissioners Thurman Ross and Jim Bensman, and will swear in the new commissioners. Also on Monday, the board will hear a presentation from Senior Planner Jason Abernethy outlining plans for land use and implementation of the town’s Comprehensive Master Plan. And, board members will hear a presentation on FY2011 financials, will vote on a resolution of appreciation for the city of Concord’s help during the Nov. 14 power outage, and will vote on whether to award an aesthetic design contract for the Diverging Diamond Interchange to the architects at Ratio. Read the full story

Updated Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m.

Thurman Ross

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
CorneliusNews.net

The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections confirmed through a re-count Thursday that veteran commissioner Thurman Ross lost his seat to town board newcomer John Bradford by just two votes in the Nov. 8 election. Read the full story

Updated Nov. 16 at 3:41 p.m.

Thurman Ross

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
CorneliusNews.net

Cornelius Commissioner Thurman Ross on Wednesday requested a re-count of the votes cast this year for town board.

After the Nov. 8 elections, preliminary numbers placed 16-year veteran commissioner Ross just 2 votes behind newcomer John Bradford, a 9-year Cornelius resident and local business owner. Read the full story

John Woods

Davidson Mayor John Woods was among several area mayors re-elected Tuesday, while voters in Mooresville chose a new leader – Miles Atkins – who stepped up from an at-large seat on the Mooresville board. Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain kept her job despite a challenge, while Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte ran unopposed.

The results could mean at least some continuity as the towns continue to cooperate on regional issues. They include the MI-Connection Communications System, which Davidson owns with Mooresville, and transportation issues, including I-77 widening and bringing the Red Line commuter rail to the Lake Norman area. Read the full story

Ericka Ellis-Stewart, Mary McCray and Tim Morgan won a 14-way race for three at-large seats on the Charlotte Mecklenburg school board Tuesday night. The trio captured seats being surrendered by three at-large members stepping down from the board.

[Listen to an audio Q&A about the school board results with WFAE reporter Lisa Miller. See below.]

In Charlotte, Mayor Anthony Foxx easily won re-election, while fellow Democrats took all four of the city council at-large seats, giving their party a 9-2 majority on the council. Read the full story

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m.

Voters on Tuesday apparently elected two newcomers to the Cornelius Town Board, along with three incumbents. Jeff Hare finished fourth in the voting, while John Bradford held a two-vote margin over 16-year Commissioner Thurman Ross for the fifth seat, according to unofficial results Wednesday.

Both local business owners, Bradford and Hare were the only challengers to the four incubment commsioners. Voters re-elected commissioners Lynette Rinker, Chuck Travis and Dave Gilroy. Mayor Jeff Tarte ran unopposed and now enters his third term. Read the full story

Residents cast their votes at Waterfront Hall at Jetton Park Tuesday, one of four 2011 polling locations. (Christina Ritchie Rogers / CorneliusNews.net)

Cornelius residents on Tuesday cast their votes for mayor, five town commissioners and three at-large school board members. Incumbent Mayor Jeff Tarte runs unopposed, and six candidates are running for five seats on the Cornelius Town Board. After a tumultuous year of budget cuts and community backlash, the school board race sees 13 candidates vying for three at-large seats. Read the full story