WAXHAW — Five candidates are vying for three vacant seats for on the Waxhaw Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners Joyce Blythe and Max Walker are up for re-election. Commissioner Sylvester McManus is not running again.

Welcoming growth while preserving the town’s heritage was the issue mentioned most often by candidates. The board recently struck down a proposed development in the historic district that would have included a three-story apartment complex, a hotel, a mixed-use building, a day care and a civic center. Historic Ventures, LLC, had requested a zoning change and conditional-use permit for the land but the board voted 4-1 against that, with Walker the only one in favor.

“I don’t feel like it is reasonable or consistent with the area,” Commissioner Martin Lane said during the public hearing.

The town has a history of conflict between development and heritage: In 2006, the town entered into an exhaustive series of hearings before rejecting efforts to build a Walmart Supercenter in town.

Early voting began Oct. 15, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

Below are candidate responses to a few questions. Candidate Ken Collins did not respond to three phone messages left since Friday.

Brett Diller

Newcomer

Age: 41

Waxhaw resident: 17 years

Occupations/other positions: Insurance agent in Waxhaw

Why running: “I’m running for the reason of being involved in the community. My wife and I are both involved citizens. We live in the historic district and we’ve seen a lot of changes over the years — some good, some bad. We have two children we’re raising, and we want to see the town quality of life is sustained.”

Top issue facing Waxhaw: “Sustainable and quality growth.”

Campaign funding: Personal and friend contributions

Erin Kirkpatrick

Newcomer

Age: 34

Waxhaw resident: Six years

Occupations/other positions: Health care office manager

Why running: “I love Waxhaw. That’s the easiest reason to tell you. A lot of it has to do with growth and making sure we have the right plan in place. I’m also from the school of thought that people should be giving back to their community.”

Top issue facing Waxhaw: “Growth and economic vitality. ... I don’t think they’re different. I think it’s one in the same. The growth is still there, obviously in a moratorium. We have to grow in the right way. Not stop growth but grow in the right way. And that needs to stimulate our economy. We have to make sure the aspects we want in Waxhaw don’t go away. People who have moved to Waxhaw recently, who were born and raised there, we all agree there’s a charm and intimacy to Waxhaw that we need to maintain. That’s a major challenge: to grow in a way that doesn’t choke that out.”

Campaign funding: Personal contributions, some friend contributions.

Joyce Blythe

Incumbent

Age: 68

Waxhaw resident: 61 years

Occupations/other positions: Retired rural mail carrier from Waxhaw

Why running: “I’ve enjoyed my first four years, and I’d like to continue to run to continue on with things we’re doing like small town Mainstreet U.S.A. program that is a two-year program that promises to be pretty exciting. I’m interested in the downtown historic district. I would like to see it promoted more.”

Top issue facing Waxhaw: “Balancing the old with the new. Economic growth and development is a challenge to Waxhaw. And working to keep our tax base as low as possible.

Campaign funding: Personal contributions

Max Walker

Incumbent

Age: 71

Waxhaw resident: 33 years

Occupations/other positions: Retired from Sears Roebuck Co.

Why running: “To serve the town.”

Top issue facing Waxhaw: “Growth. Water and sewage is an issue. Those are probably the two main things.”

Campaign funding: Personal contributions