STALLINGS - What do you want to know about potential Stallings representatives?

The League of Women Voters will have a candidate forum on Thursday, giving residents a chance to ask their burning questions. There are four people in the race for mayor and nine hoping to win one of four seats on the Town Council.

Council members Wyatt Dunn and Al Graham are up for re-election. Councilman Mark Franza will not run again, and Councilwoman Barbara Anne Price is running for mayor.

Hot button topics, according to the candidates, include the Monroe bypass, Stallings Road projects, new business and the tax rate. Providing quality schools and parks is also at the top of the list.

Those who attend the forum can submit questions on index cards prior to the event. The questions will be combined, edited where needed and asked by a moderator.

“It’s an opportunity for me to let people know who I am and what I stand for,” write-in candidate Harry Stokes said, adding that he is anxious to hear residents’ concerns. Stokes has lived in Stallings for 20 years but is new to politics. He said he has done a lot of research into the town’s issues and anticipates several questions about the Monroe bypass.

Stokes said he hopes residents don’t simply choose sides in the election, but elect their representatives based on the issues at hand and who is best qualified to address them.

Mayoral candidate Lucy Drake, a former Stallings mayor, and council candidate Jerry Nolan said they have seen some negative publicity about candidates and want to set the record straight. Drake said the forum will let people “form their own opinion.”

Drake expects to hear questions about the bypass as well as the recently proposed Chestnut Lane connector and improved Stallings Road intersections.

“I hope we stick to the issues,” she said, adding that she would rather hear questions about the town’s future than current spending because only a few people participating in the forum can speak to the latter. She also looks forward to meeting some of the candidates she doesn’t know yet.

Mayoral candidate Louis Philippi wants a full audience. The biggest problem for the town, he said, has been a divided mayor and council, and it will be residents’ job to see which fellow candidate can work best with council members.

With a hectic work schedule, Nolan said he’s not yet sure if he can attend the forum, but wants to see other candidates who have “an open look” for the town instead of “a set agenda.”

“I don’t know what to expect from it, but I’m ready,” Stokes said.

The forum will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Stallings Elementary School. The election is Nov. 3.

The League of Women Voters will also have forums for Marshville, Wesley Chapel and Indian Trail candidates in October. For more information, call Virginia Bjorlin at 704-283-5776.

BREAKOUT BOX

Who is running?

For mayor:

Incumbent Lynda Paxton

Louis Philippi

Barbara Anne Price

Lucy Drake

For council:

Incumbent Al Graham

Incumbent Wyatt Dunn

Jerry Nolan

Reed Esarove

Michael Matlock

Jason Klingler

Doug Hutton

Paul Frost

Harry Stokes