The races in Walnut Cove for mayor and town commissioner are gearing up to be fierce ones. In the board of commissioners’ contest, the sheer number of candidates testifies to an increased interest in who governs the town. Five citizens are fighting for just two seats.

The mayoral race is déjà vu all over again—a battle between the incumbent, Mayor John Hodgkin, and former Walnut Cove Town Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem, Alma Childers. The two opposed each other in 2007 when Hodgkin won with 170 votes to Childers’ 98. Ron White also received 50 votes in that election.

In the commissioners’ race, the terms of incumbents Dr. Debbie Cowan and Kim Lewis are expiring. Both Cowan and Lewis are vying for re-election, joined in the race by newcomers Sharon Conaway, J. Elwood Mabe and Charles Mitchell.

The results will be decided on Tuesday, November 3, at the polling place at the Walnut Cove Fire Department. The polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Registration for this election ended on Friday, October 9.

THE RACE FOR MAYOR. . .

Alma Childers

Former Walnut Cove Town Commissioner Alma Childers has decided to enter the political world once more. This time, however, she hopes to move a step higher than town commissioner and be elected mayor.

Childers has had five years of experience in the government of Walnut Cove. She served as mayor pro tem for one year during her stint on the board of commissioners and even as interim mayor for a time. During that time, she also represented Walnut Cove on the Northwest Piedmont Council of Government.

For a number of years now, Childers has been out of municipal government, living simply as a citizen of Walnut Cove. And it’s the citizens she says she’s thinking of now.

“The board needs to listen to citizens,” Childers believes. “Good ideas do not necessarily always come from town officials. Better communication should exist between town officials and those affected by their decisions as we work to demonstrate fiscal responsibility during tough economic times.”

Childers has been a resident of Walnut Cove for 18 years. She moved here to be closer to her son and his family after the death of her husband of 43 years. She was raised in northwestern North Carolina on an Ashe County farm where corn and tobacco was grown. Her family sold Grade C milk to the only cheese plant in the state.

After reaching adulthood, Childers worked for 33 years with the United States Department of Agriculture. There, she worked closely with farmers to help them utilize federal programs. She feels that her tenure with the USDA provided her with valuable experience.

“Carefully listening to the needs of our clients helped me give them the best possible service,” Childers states. “The job included managing budgets and fiscal responsibility. These are skills still needed in town government today.”

Childers has also been a leader in the church world. Currently she attends Christ Church in Walnut Cove, where she sings in the choir and has taught Sunday School. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and music.

At the moment, however, Childers is doing different things with her free time. For about two months, she has been visiting other town residents, trying to reach every household in Walnut Cove. She says she is hearing the same thing repeatedly.

“The main concern I hear from residents over and over again is the dismissal of Barry Conaway as Walnut Cove Police Chief,” Childers notes. “People feel that the town is no longer responsive to the needs and wishes of its citizens. For example, the closing of part of Main Street recently on the weekend of the Stokes Stomp adversely affected many businesses in town.”

Childers is also concerned about the relationship between the Town of Walnut Cove and the Walnut Cove Fire Department. The fire department, she explains, “operates independently of the town for the benefit of all town citizens. They have a history of running an effective organization. The Walnut Cove town government should support the fire department in every way possible.”

If elected, Childers hopes to help remedy the problems spoken to her by fellow citizens. “As a town, we need to pull together,” she avows, “and make it the best that it can be.”

John Hodgkin

“I have never been a politician and never intend to be one,” says John Hodgkin. In fact, his only political experience is the past two years he has served as mayor of Walnut Cove. Rather than looking at his bid for re-election as a political move, Hodgkin sees it instead as an opportunity to serve his community.

“My platform is simply to serve the interest of the citizens of the town,” Hodgkin explains. “I eschew the petty politics of self-interest.”

His interest in town government began when he and Judy, his wife of 26 years first moved to Walnut Cove. At that time, the Small Town program was just beginning. Hodgkin wanted to help this program progress and felt that the best way to do it was to become an elected official.

“I believe most of the people in this town want to see neglected buildings and homes restored and filled with thriving businesses and families,” he notes. “They want wholesome recreation for their children.”

Hodgkin has some goals, if re-elected, that he would like to pursue with regard to “wholesome recreation.” He wants to see construction begin on the town’s Greenway project. The town has been awarded $90,000 in grants for the endeavor; those funds are expected to be released in 2010.

Hodgkin also desires to pursue the acquisition of a seven- to 10-acre park to be used as a picnic/playground area in Walnut Cove. He says this is important since family is so important to him; he himself has a daughter, a son and five grandchildren. In his recreational and family time, he enjoys golfing, reading and cooking.

Hodgkin feels that he has the leadership skills necessary to help reach these goals. A Sarnia, Ontario, Canada native, he graduated from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, and began working for Burroughs Corp., launching a 25-plus year career in the printing industry.

Working his way up the career ladder, Hodgkin became vice-president and general manager of the North Central Area. There he ran a $100 million division with over 200 sales, service and administrative personnel.

Hodgkin, a naturalized U.S. citizen since 1992, also earned an MBA with distinction from Keller Graduate School of Management with emphasis on Finance. In 2004, he left the printing industry to become a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments.

Hodgkin has also garnered leadership experience in other arenas. He teaches a weekly adult Bible class and serves as a head elder in his church. In the past, he has chaired the church board. Currently, he serves as president of the Walnut Cove Rotary Club.

“My executive leadership experience has served me well to provide direction and perspective to the town board in order to help revitalize the town,” Hodgkin opines.

Part of that revitalization includes increased job opportunities. “We have good businesses in this town and the business owners are one of our greatest assets,” Hodgkin says.

Another of his goals is to reduce the fire insurance premiums for town residents by improving the town’s ISO rating. The project is already underway, and Hodgkin wants to help see it completed. If re-elected, Hodgkin wants to continue moving forward with the current plans to build a new town hall and community service building on the corner of Main and Fifth streets. He’d also like to see a grant secured to begin an engineering study to upgrade the town’s water and sewer systems.

Hodgkin is pleased with the direction in which the town is moving. A GPS mapping project has been started. Property owners have been held accountable for building upkeep; the mayor hopes the board will continue to “condemn and demolish buildings that have been allowed to fall into dereliction.”

All of these projects, Hodgkin says, “are to help improve the infrastructure and desirability of our town for new business and residential customers.” He believes that these improvements will attract new residential projects and small businesses, which will in turn, broaden the tax base and provide funding to further develop the community.”

Hodgkin is firm in his convictions of how a town should be governed: “I pledge to govern by principle, not personal interest. God is my moral compass. Truth is my standard. My word is my bond.”

THE RACE FOR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. . .

Sharon Conaway

Sharon Conaway has been a fixture at Walnut Cove Town Meetings for many years. And now, she wants to become a part of the board that governs the town.

“Many of our citizens know my family and our history of service the community,” she explains. Her husband Barry was even the police chief of the town for many years. She credits him with her current foray into politics, “It is Barry’s unwavering dedication to serving our community that inspired my own call to service.”

Conaway and her husband are longtime residents of the town. They attend Fulp Moravian Church and have two daughters who are both fulltime students. She has been involved in community activities, serving as the treasurer for the Walnut Cove Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Conaway also feels that she has the experience necessary to fill a position on the board of commissioners. A South Stokes High School graduate, she went on to graduate from High Point University with a B.S. in Accounting. For more than 23 years, she has worked in finance, with the majority of that experience in leadership roles. Currently, she works at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as a financial analyst.

Town finances are of particular interest to Conaway. “Poor planning and uncontrolled spending over the last two years has jeopardized our town’s financial stability,” she voices her opinion. Conaway cites her findings that for fiscal year 2007-2008, expenses in Walnut Cove exceeded revenue by $228,422. She is troubled that the fund balance rating went from 66 to 34 percent in one year, below the state average of 38 percent.

Conaway says that, according to the town auditor, Walnut Cove was rated “the worst in the state for spending in excess of approved budget appropriations. She notes that, for 2008-2009, the preliminary reported deficit is $270,760.

“More accountability over the use of our financial resources is critical,” Conaway insists.

If elected, she believes she can use her leadership and financial experience to help manage the town’s resources while protecting the citizens from bearing a heavy tax burden. “The reality is that Walnut Cove is a small town with limited resources,” Conaway notes. “It is our elected officials who are appointed as the stewards of our town and resources.”

Another of her major concerns is that she believes the citizens’ voices need to be taken more into account by town leaders. “Over the past two years, I have witnessed too many instances where decisions were made in disregard to the feedback and input received from the people in our community,” Conaway says. “Today many of the decisions that impact our citizens and businesses are not being made by the elected body as a whole. It is clear that our town needs elected officials who are willing to stand up and represent the citizens.”

Conaway hopes to be elected to the board on November 3. “I believe that I have the experience and willingness that is essential in protecting our town’s future,” she concludes.

Debbie Cowan

As a Ragsdale High School student, Dr. Debbie Cowan and her friends would hike at Hanging Rock State Park several weekends per month. They always stopped off in Walnut Cove to get snacks. “Folks were always so friendly. very different from High Point,” Cowan recalls. “I always said I would love to live here.”

That wish was granted.

After what she calls “eight grueling years” of veterinary school, Cowan eventually moved to Walnut Cove. “I have never regretted being here,” she says. “It’s all I imagined.”

Cowan even talked her parents into moving into her newly adopted town. Her mother has passed away now, but her 86-year-old dad still lives in Walnut Cove.

Cowan’s political career began to take roots seven years ago when the Walnut Cove Rotary Club started a beautification committee. Cowan and her fellow committee members were granted permission from the town board to clean up Fowler Park, paint some murals and otherwise decorate the town. After that, the board itself formed beautification and events committees.

Cowan began to focus on planning events that would be fun for the family. “Kids in Walnut Cove have NOTHING to do,” she notes. With that in mind, she and others started a music series in the park, with varied artists to appeal to more people; set up free movie nights in the park; began a Fourth of July fireworks show; and instituted the Walnut Festival.

“Folks asked me to run for commissioner because I was willing to do things.” Cowan explains her initial entry into politics, “so I did.”

She felt that her leadership experience qualified her to run. Cowan ran a student organization in vet school. She was one of the charter members and vice-chair of education for the Wildlife Rehabilitation League, as well as president of the Gainseville Animal Rescue League.

Since moving to Stokes County, Cowan has continued to be involved in the community. She was on the Stokes County Board of Health for 10 years and has been president of the Walnut Cove Rotary Club. Currently, she serves on the Animal Shelter Advisory Board and represents Walnut Cove on the Hospice Board in Stokes County and the Council of Government Board.

Cowan was elected as a Walnut Cove Town Commissioner in 2005. She is pleased with many of the accomplishments since that time, such as the Small Town Main Street Grant awarded to the town, the slow but continuous improvement of the business section of town which includes six new benches and garbage receptacles with more things to come, the improvement of the town’s decorations, the completion of the library project and the refurbishing of Fowler Park.

Cowan is also proud of the sidewalk grant that was awarded to the town, with the help of Healthy Carolinians and Town Manager Homer Dearmin. “The sidewalk has improved mobility for our London School students to walk to and from the library and has enhanced the ability of citizens to walk to the Senior Center,” she notes.

The newly-instituted recycling program is another thing Cowan is happy about. “It will help Walnut Cove, not only with the state mandate, but with keeping our town clean and with helping the environment of our state,” she comments.

Cowan adds: “Obviously I could continue to wax poetic, but these programs and other programs that we are working towards for the town are what cause me to re-apply. I want to be able to finish projects that I have been helpful in starting. I feel that it is wrong to start a project and then abandon it.”

Some of the goals she wants to see through to completion include moving forward with the Small Town goals, the improvement of business downtown and the prevention of Walnut Cove becoming another ‘bedroom community.” Cowan wants to continue trying to get the Department of Transportation to allow the town to effect some changes to the streets—simple things, she says, such as painting a crosswalk.

Cowan hopes to be in office to continue with the Greenway project, for which a grant has been promised. “These Greenways will provide beautiful paths for bicycles, walking, running that will keep citizens off the traffic areas and afford a great way to do exercise,” she notes.

If elected, Cowan hopes to see the water treatment system and town hall facilities continue being improved. She would like to see the old and abandoned buildings in town be updated and used again, with all town residents in “warm, sturdy, safe housing.”

Cowan’s desires for the town she now loves so much are simply stated: “I want to be able to continue improving our town, while keeping its small town appeal and community sense. Something that our children would like to come back to as they mature and start their own families.”

Kim Lewis

Like her fellow town commissioner Dr. Cowan, Stokes County native Kim Lewis hopes to be re-elected to her position on the Walnut Cove board. If she is successful, she hopes to involve citizens more in the government of the town in which she has lived for 24 years.

“Somehow, I would like to involve more people to participate and be active in their own government,” Lewis says. She suggests that citizens obtain the information needed for making sound decisions, and then make their opinions known to town management and elected representatives.

“Citizens can obtain this information by attending town meetings, budget retreats and public hearings, planning and zoning meetings, Small Town Main Street meetings, and the like,” Lewis advises.

Lewis grew up in Meadows, just above Walnut Cove. After graduating from South Stokes High School, she completed her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy. Lewis worked as a pharmacist at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health, at Stokes-Reynolds Memorial Hospital and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Currently, she is employed as a pharmacist at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health.

Politically, Lewis has served two four-year terms as a Walnut Cove Town Commissioner. Her other leadership experience includes serving on the Walnut Cove library board for more than a decade; at present, she is the board’s secretary and treasurer. She serves as secretary on the Vestry at Walnut Cove Episcopal Church and for the Walnut Cove Lions Club.

Lewis is excited about the progress she has seen throughout her eight years of service to the town. “I have seen many individuals become more involved,” she notes, “with a belief for the entire town, not just this section or that group. They explore the issues, and examine all sides of the issues before coming to conclusions. That needs to continue. This town needs to continue going forward.”

One thing that Lewis is pleased about is the town’s formalization of both short and long-range plans for infrastructure improvements, repairs and replacements. “This type of plan, which encompasses the water and sewer systems, technology, recreation, vehicles, equipment, and training, will be used in the budget process to set priorities for spending,” she explains.

If re-elected, Lewis hopes to continue to focus on the appearance of the town. She explains: “It is difficult to attract new residents or businesses if the overall form is unsightly. Parks, greenways, and walking trails, including sidewalks, are functional and attractive, too.”

Lewis wants the town to continue enforcing the zoning ordinance and encouraging property owners to improve and maintain their properties. She applauds the town’s facade grant program, by which the town pays a portion of improving the facade of business properties.

One thing Lewis is particularly enjoying is the cooperation between the fire department and the Town of Walnut Cove to lower the fire rating. Already they have concluded that improving the water system, not only the fire hydrants, will be essential, along with equipment, training and record keeping. “This long process will benefit everyone, and not just in terms of safety,” Lewis notes. “Property owners in the entire Walnut Cove Fire District, not just the town, will enjoy lower fire insurance bills.”

If she regains her seat, Lewis hopes to involve local business owners in the governmental process, in addition to town residents. She feels that she could be an asset in this process.

“I use logic and reason every day while making decisions on my job as a pharmacist,” Lewis explains. “And I try to do the same for the town. Get the facts, listen to viewpoints, add some common sense and come to a decision, while treating everyone the same.”

Elwood Mabe

Born and raised in the Walnut Cove area, Elwood Mabe has lived in the town of Walnut Cove for 19 years. His desire now is to serve his hometown as a commissioner on the town board.

Mabe graduated from South Stokes High School. He later was owner and operator of Mabe’s Service Station, located where Hardee’s now stands. After several years there, he went to work as a Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor for the County of Stokes. He is still there, with 31 years of service.

Mabe has a son and a daughter and three grandchildren. He and his wife attend Bethesda United Methodist Church where he holds several positions and is active in the United Methodist Men’s group. In his church, Mabe has also served as chairman of the administrative council, church lay leader and Sunday School teacher.

In the community, Mabe has been a scoutmaster for Troop 444 in Walnut Cove for over 20 years. In his spare time, he enjoys racing, baseball, fishing and camping.

Currently, Mabe serves on the Planning and Zoning Board for the Town of Walnut Cove, for which he has been chairman for several years. Other leadership experience includes being the chairman for the Accident Review Committee for Stokes County.

“With my experience at work, church, scouting and planning board, I feel I have a lot of experience to offer the citizens of Walnut Cove,” Mabe states.

If elected to a spot on the board of commissioners, Mabe hopes to help the town continue to work closely with the Walnut Cove Fire Department to help lower insurance rates for the town’s residents. He also wants to encourage new businesses to locate in town and to continue the improvement of the water and sewer system.

Charles Mitchell

Stokes County native Charles Mitchell is eager to serve Walnut Cove and hopes to be elected to the town’s board of commissioners on November 3. “I look at Walnut Cove and I’d like to see Walnut Cove move from the 20th century to the 21st century,” he explains one of the reasons he is running for office.

One of the ways Mitchell proposes to do this is to bring more jobs to town. “I’d like to see our town grow,” he notes, “and I’d like to see some job opportunities come to Walnut Cove, more industry.” Mitchell adds, “We’ve got a beautiful town, but we’ve missed out on a lot of opportunities.” He thinks that local jobs for young people are crucial.

Mitchell himself knows the value of hard work. He grew up in Belews Creek, graduated from London High School, then attended Rockingham Community College in the machinist program. Later Mitchell completed the electrical apprenticeship program at Forsyth Technical Community College.

He went to work for Duke Power in 1972 and retired after more than 25 years of service. In 1978, Mitchell became the first black electrical contractor to be licensed in Stokes. In 1985, he went back to the state board to obtain his unlimited electrical license, the largest license available in the state.

Mitchell finished out his education by returning to FTCC from which he graduated with honors in 2007 with his associate’s degree in Business Admininstration.

Mitchell has been married for almost 42 years and has four children and nine grandchildren. Although he is mostly retired, he still does a little electrical work on the side.

Mitchell’s leadership experience has been gained primarily in the church world. He is chairman of the deacon board at Pine Hall Baptist Church and an alternate on the church planning board. He also teaches Sunday School.

Much of his church work is done through the FreedomRoad Prison Ministry. In 1992, Mitchell was named Volunteer of the Year at the now defunct Stokes County Correctional Center. Now his prison work primarily takes him to the Forsyth County Jail where he teaches Bible classes through FreedomRoad.

In addition to his teaching duties to prisoners, Mitchell teaches a weekly Sunday School class at Walnut Cove Healthcare and Walnut Ridge Assisted Living, as well as holding classes at the Stokes Reynolds Skilled Care Unit.

Now Mitchell would like to add politics as part of his life. “I have no personal vendettas or anything,” he explains his political stance. “I just want to be a servant of the people and try to do the people’s work. . .I have no personal ambition.”

One of Mitchell’s goals is to keep local kids here rather than losing them to Winston-Salem and King. His belief is that there is not enough to keep them in Walnut Cove at this time. He says he would like to see a YMCA come to town.

“I’d like to see a change,” he comments. “We need growth. . .I’d like to encourage young people to become good citizens and do things that are constructive.”

One thing Mitchell would like to see handled is improvement of the old water pipes and better control of the drain problems in town. “We certainly want our little city to be a good municipality,” he states.

Mitchell says he wouldn’t mind more bond referendums to upgrade nature trails around town. And he wants to work in unity with other town officials. “I believe in doing that which is right,” he avows. “We can agree and we can also disagree.”

If elected, he wants to help move the town forward. “I know I can’t promise people we can change things overnight,” he admits, “ but we want to move ahead with it.”