STALLINGS — Lynda Paxton won four more years as Stallings mayor Tuesday, claiming 959, or 55.7 percent, of the votes.

After a day at the polls battling the flu, she gathered at the Shannamara clubhouse with fellow candidates. Paxton said her biggest accomplishment in the past four years has been “increased transparency” in local government. She is also excited about upcoming park renovations and will push for a capital improvement plan that would specify how project money is used.

She hopes for a tax decrease by next year.

“We’re on a good path,” she said.

Watching the results for other candidates, she said she is happy to have a “supportive council ... not running on their own agendas.”

Stallings results include a pocket of residents who live in Mecklenburg County, but vote in Stallings elections. According to the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, there are 175 registered voters in that category.

Other Stallings candidates ran on a few hours of sleep Tuesday, spending most of the day at the polls.

Prior to hearing results, mayoral candidate Louis Philippi said he would support whoever wins and hopes the winner will put an end to “bickering” on th Town Council. A mayor’s job is to present a solid vision for the town, he said, but honor the Town Council’s decisions no matter how it votes.

A recent retiree, Philippi said if he was not elected, he would still volunteer in town. Philippi took 186 or 10.8 percent of the votes.

Mayoral candidate Lucy Drake said it was a push from fellow residents that encouraged her to run again. Drake served as mayor for four terms from 1997 to 2005. She watched the results from Skinnyz Bar and Grill, a restaurant that opened when she was mayor.

Drake was pleased with the overall campaign, but disappointed at some negative campaigning by opponents and their followers. “I took the high road on this one,” she said, adding that she is “thick-skinned.”

“You have to be in politics.”

Before the results were in, Drake said she would support “anybody but Mayor Paxton” if not elected.

Drake had 492 or 28.6 percent of the votes. She will continue her work with Jamison Realty in Matthews.

Councilwoman Barbara Anne Price also ran for mayor and received 80 or 4.7 percent of the votes. She was seen Tuesday hauling a trailer, dubbed The Straight Talk Express, covered in campaign signs. She handed out Tootsie Rolls to residents with a sweet tooth.

Price could not be reached for comment.

District 1

Write-in candidate Harry Stokes won 974 or about 64 percent of the votes against incumbent Al Graham. Only seven write-in votes were not for Stokes.

Prior to final results, Stokes said if he wins, he will “celebrate and then go take the longest nap ever.” Stokes ran on three hours of sleep Tuesday and spent the evening at the Shannamara clubhouse with family and friends.

Still at the polls, he said he felt confident of his win. “Maybe I shouldn’t, but I just have this peace.” Thirty volunteers, a newspaper ad and 350 campaign signs later, Stokes claimed a spot on the council. His first step will be talking to town staff and the Police Department to ask how he can support them.

Graham could not be reached for comment.

District 2

Reed Esarove beat Jerry Nolan for a spot on the council by 543 votes, claiming 1,029 of his own. Esarove serves on the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee, but must vacate that position to serve as councilman.

Post-results, Esarove said he was relieved for the campaign to end and claim the win. He will replace Mark Franza, who did not run for re-election.

“I’m humbled by the support of the people that were helping me,” Esarove said. As councilman, he said he will promote residents’ wishes, not just his own.

“That’s what I promised to do and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Nolan could not be reached for comment.

District 3

Councilman Wyatt Dunn will keep his seat on the council, taking 1,242 or 77 percent of the votes against Michael Matlock. This is Dunn’s second term.

Dunn said he will “keep doing what’s in the best interest of all the citizens like I think I’ve been doing.”

Prior to the results, Dunn met his campaign volunteers for breakfast at 5:30 a.m. His wife and son helped him hand out fliers at the polls, but he said his “secret weapon” — his son who is in the U.S. Navy — could not be there.

“No one can say ‘no’ to someone in uniform,” he said, “but they wouldn’t let him out for this.”

He joined other town candidates in Shannamara to watch the results. “They won’t let me just watch it in my recliner” at home, he joked.

Matlock could not be reached for comment.

District 6

Paul Frost will represent District 6, a position previously held by Price.

At 6 p.m., Frost said he was “both excited and nervous.”

Frost called the campaign “a great experience,” saying he learned a lot about residents’ needs, including the need for better street maintenance.

As the winner, Frost will push for a capital improvement plan, enabling Stallings “to prioritize the financial needs of the town.” He also hopes to see more commercial revenue.

Frost’s wife, Tracy Frost, serves on the town’s Parks and Recreation cCommittee.

Frost received 1,020 or 62.5 percent of the votes. Jason Klingler got 24 percent and Doug Hutton came in at 13 percent.

Hutton ran on a platform for lower taxes and and commercial development, as did many other candidates. “I definitely want to see the campaign promise that was made by nearly every candidate come to fruition,” he said.

Regardless of the outcome, Hutton said he would “breathe a huge sigh of relief,” but still plans to serve the town.

“This is not a one-time deal for me,” he said. “This is still the town I live in. This is still the town where I raise my family, and this is still the town I pay taxes in.” Hutton has been a Stallings resident for six months.

Klingler could not be reached for comment.