One-stop voting began Monday, April 23, in eastern Lincoln County. Polls will be open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Friday, May 4, at the East Lincoln Community Center, at 8160 Optimist Club Road, Denver.

Polls will also be open from 6:30 a.m. to  7:30  p.m. on election day, May 8. Voters must visit their designated polling location that day. To find your polling place, visit www.ncsbe.gov.

We asked candidates for local, state and national elections to answer questions to help you prepare for the primary election May 8.

Mike Davis

Republican

Age: 59

Lives in: Crouse

Education: Completed 13 years in heavy equipment school and finished management for business classes from a local college

Political Experience: No prior experience in serving the public but has been active in the Republican party in fund-raising for candidates in the election of Joe Kiser and Barbara Pickens.

Other qualifications: “I can serve the public in their needs for county services. I want a better tax rate for all the county. We need to re-do the revaluation so it will be fair for each end of the county, not just one, and to spend the money wisely, not to just vote yes for everything,” Davis wrote.

Job: Owner of Davis Brothers automotive for 38 years and owner of Fairview Farms of Crouse.

Contact: davisbrothers1@ainweb.net

Cecelia Allran Martin

Republican

Age: 65

Lives in: Crouse

Education: Lincoln County Schools, North Carolina State University, N.C. Institute of Government, Wake Community College, Gaston Community College

Political Experience: Former Secretary of the Lincoln County Republican Party Executive Committee; 2010 Republican candidate for County Commissioner

Other qualifications: “I have 25 years in management experience with the State of North Carolina, Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. My experience also includes work in the private sector, and I have owned a real estate company and court reporting business. I have written and managed policy and budgets throughout my career,” she wrote.

Job: Retired from State of North Carolina, former business owner.

Contact: campaign@ceceliamartin.com, www.ceceliamartin.com

Carrol D. Mitchem

Republican

Age: 54

Lives in: Vale

Education: 1975 graduate of West Lincoln High School

Political Experience: Served eight years on the Board of Commissioners and served on the county Planning Board.

Other Qualifications: “I make myself accessible to all the people of Lincoln County. If for any reason you need to discuss any issues, please call me at 704-472-2751. I use a conservative, common sense approach to make decisions for Lincoln County citizens,” he wrote.

Job: Owns and operates Mitchem’s Farm and Mitchem’s Kitchen

Contact: carrolrooster@aol.com

Martin Oakes

Republican

Age: 65

Lives in: Denver

Education: Bachelor’s of electrical engineering, cum laude, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

Political Experience: Organized two community action groups with more than 200 members each; successfully campaigned to redistrict the Lincoln County School Board; campaigned successfully to stop a landfill next to a local neighborhood; campaigned successfully to re-direct excess funds from a disbanding Rescue Squad into a county-approved park.

Other qualifications: “I’m well known for thorough research on issues,” he wrote.

Job: Builds business models to optimize production and distribution for large companies, greater than $1 billion; semi-retired

Contact: maoakes@charter.net, www.electmartinoakes.org

Alex Patton

Republican

Age: 51

Lives in: Lincolnton

Education: Lincolnton High School; U.S. Army Tactical Communication School, top secret clearance, honor grad-primary leadership and development course, numerous military courses and schools; management development program at Harris Teeter

Political Experience: County Commissioner for last eight years and chair for last four years; Department Of Social Services Board for last six years, chair for last three years; Advisory Council member at CMC-Lincoln for last three years; chair of Lincoln County Public Safety Committee for last five years.

Other Qualifications: “I know the issues and have built relationships with other elected officials that allow us to move forward and get things accomplished. I have worked to serve the entire county, but also recognize that each part of the county is unique and has specific needs. I have the people skills and leadership skills needed,” he wrote.

Job: Manager for Harris Teeter.

Contact: awdar@charter.net, www.facebook.com/alexpatton1

Other candidates who did not respond to the questionnaire: Larry Turbyfill

Jim Klein

Republican

Age: 65

Lives in: Stanley

Education: Bachelor’s in electrical engineering, Villanova University, Master’s in business administration, University of Georgia, Chamber of Commerce community leadership training program.

Political Experience: Elected two terms to the Board of Education in Georgia; elected two terms to Board of Commissioners in Lincoln County.

Other qualifications: “I was selected by county commissioners state-wide to the board of N.C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) to develop legislative initiatives that address specific county needs and challenges. In addition, I serve on the Tax & Finance and Intergovernmental Committees of the NCACC,” he wrote.

Job: After a 25-year career in manufacturing management, now owns and runs a paint contracting business.

Contact: kleinfornchouse@gmail.com

Charles E. Newman

Republican

Age: 59

Lives in: Iron Station

Education: Bachelor’s in education from Western Carolina University, with double major concentrations in social studies and science.

Political Experience: Seven years as member of the Cherokee County Board of Elections, including one year as chairman. Former precinct chairman of Lowesville West precinct, former at-large member of county, district and state Republican executive committees.

Other qualifications: “I have 26 years’ experience with Duke Energy, including 11 years as a licensed reactor operator and four years as an operations procedure writer. This experience helped me develop a questioning attitude, which led to being recognized as a problem solver and to think outside the box to arrive at practical solutions,” he wrote.

Job: Retired, manage and own a small mobile home park and one advertising billboard

Contact: charlesnewman@charles
newmanfornchouse.com, www.charles
newmanfornchouse.com

Jason R. Saine

Republican

Age: 38

Lives in: Denver

Education: Lincolnton High School, 1991; bachelor’s in political science, cum laude, 1995, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; bachelor’s in fire science, projected graduation May 2012, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Ala.

Political Experience: “I have spent many years advocating for the conservative principles of less government, lower taxes and more freedom. I served as the local GOP Party chair, State Young Republican chair and national committeeman, precinct chair, and many other positions,” he wrote.

Other qualifications: “As the incumbent and having worked for the last 12 years with many members of the legislature on legislative issues, I know that being successful in the General Assembly for our district requires more than just simpleton knowledge of tax and government issues. It also requires that the representative have relationships throughout state government, which I have,” he wrote.

Job: I divide my duties in the legislature with my professional career as a public relations and social media consultant.

Contact: jason@jasonsaine.com, www.jasonsaine.com

Patsy Keever

Democrat

Age: 64

Lives in: Asheville

Education: Bachelor’s from Duke University, 1969; Master’s from Western Carolina University, 1979.

Political Experience: N.C. House of Representatives since 2010; Buncombe County Commissioner for 12 years, 1992 to 2004.

Other Qualifications: “CarePartners Health Services, board member; Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center, board member; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville; Chair Social Justice Council; Environment North Carolina, score of 100 for environment-friendly votes during 2011 Legislative Session,” she wrote.

Job: Retired public school teacher, currently representing the N.C. House of Representatives District 115.

Contact: patsy@keeverforcongress.com, keeverforcongress.com



Patrick McHenry

Republican

Age: 36

Lives in: Cherryville

Education: Bachelor’s in history from Belmont Abbey College, 1999.

Political Experience: Member of the N.C. House District 109, 2003-2005; U.S. Representative District 10, 2005-present.

Other qualifications: “I am a member of the Gastonia Rotary and a member of the Chamber of Commerce in all 10 counties I represent. I currently serve as the chairman of the House Conservatives Fund, where I actively work to recruit strong conservative candidates for Congress across the country. I worship at St. Michael’s church,” he wrote.

Job: Small businessman, public servant.

Contact: info@mchenryforcongress.com, www.mchenryforcongress.com

Timothy Murphy

Democrat

Age: 43

Lives in: Rutherfordton

Education: Associate’s in applied science in horticulture, Surry Community College; bachelor’s in English language and literature - English education from N.C. State University

Political Experience: None

Other Qualifications: “As a person of ’modest means’, I understand the daily trials and struggles that my neighbors in the 10th (District) face. My ‘outside the political system’ status and my commitment to liberal values, social justice, equality, and our Constitution give me an unique perspective on being an effective, responsive representative,” he wrote.

Job: Independent contractor in rural newspaper delivery.

Contact: campaign@timothy
murphyforcongress.com, www.timothy
murphyforcongress.com

Don Peterson

Republican

Age: 52

Lives in: Cramerton

Education: Left high school to join the U.S. Navy at 17; became an aviation electrician on the F-14 Tomcat;  picked up the electrical trade and earned his GED; took a few college and professional development classes related to work.

Political Experience: None

Other qualifications: “I’m an American citizen who wants to make America a better place for this, and future generations. I’m seeking to serve because I feel it’s the path God wants me to walk. America was founded on Christian values and principals, this is what I believe and will fight to uphold,” he wrote.

Job: Associate engineer, engineers and designs products for a company in Dallas.

Contact: dg.peterson@yahoo.com, www.donpetersonforcongress.com

Other candidates who did not respond to the questionnaire: Terry Michelle Bellamy (D) and Ken H. Fortenberry (R)

Ross Bulla

Democrat

Age: 42

Lives in: Denver

Education: Bachelor’s in criminal justice and psychology from UNC-Charlotte.

Political Experience: No elected office, but served the public as chief of East Lincoln Rescue Squad.

Job: Security risk management and intellectual property rights enforcement and acquisitions.

Contact: ross@rossin2012.com, www.RossIn2012.com

Chris Carney

Republican

Age: 40

Lives in: Mooresville

Education: N.C. State University, Gardner-Webb University, and Mountain State University (leadership). Has also taken several classes with UNC for elected officials (leadership, ethics etc.).

Political Experience: Town of Mooresville Commissioner 2005-2011; Mayor Pro-Tem 2009-2011; NC Senate December 2011-Present.

Other Qualifications: “Served our country from 1991-1999 as a Navy SeaBee; Rotarian since 2002, past President 2006; served on several boards, including Lowe’s YMCA, Dove House Child Advocacy, Smile 4 a Lifetime, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Centralina Economic Development Corp., Mooresville Recreation Board and the Ethics Advisory Board,” he wrote.

Job: Self-Employed, owned multiple small businesses.

Contact: Sen.carney@gmail.com, www.CarneyNCSenate.com

Karen Ray

Republican

Age: 62

Lives in: Iredell County

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University

Political Experience: Former Iredell County Commissioner-Vice Chair; Former member of the NC House of Representatives - three terms; Vice Chair of the NC Wine and Grape Council; Chair of the NC Motorsports Advisory Council; Member of the Disciplinary Hearing Commission of the N.C. State Bar.

Other Qualifications: “I worked for two years with the Department of Commerce on a Memorandum of Agreement between the N.C. Motorsports Industry and United States Army Special Operations Command. The (agreement) is a living document that incorporates many N.C. businesses thus far with the military and is growing. As a legislator, I have made the conservative tough decisions and will continue to do so,” she wrote.

Job: Owns three small businesses: a manufacturing business, a certified court reporter and the director of governmental affairs for the N.C. Motorsports Association.

Contact: karen@karenrayforsenate.com, www.karenrayforsenate.com

David Curtis

Republican

Age: 65

Lives in: Denver

Education: Degree in economics from UNC-Chapel Hill, Doctor of optometry - Southern College of Optometry

Political Experience: I have been active in the Lincoln County Republican Party for many years: get out the vote chairman, former vice chairman of party, former acting chairman of party.

Other qualifications: “I’ve been a small business owner for the past 34 years. I’m the most conservative candidate in the Senate race, and I understand the burden of high taxes and excessive state regulations put on small business owners,” he wrote.

Job: Founded Carolina Eye Care in 1977

Contact: dlcurtis1895@gmail.com, www.davidcurtisforncsenate.com.