Photo by Jon Dawson / Neuse News

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LA GRANGE | With long-serving La Grange Mayor Woody Gurley not seeking reelection, two veteran town council members are vying for his job.

The mayoral candidates - David Holmes, 49, and Bobby Wooten, 72, are no strangers to voters in the Town of La Grange. Both Holmes and Wooten have deep roots in the community and have served the town in official capacities for many years. Both candidates are currently members of the La Grange Town Council, with Wooten serving as mayor pro tempore and Holmes as a councilman.

Neuse News reached out to Holmes and Wooten and asked them to briefly describe their background and their vision for the Town of La Grange.

David Holmes: "I was born and raised in La Grange and work in real estate. I attended Faith Christian Academy and have four children with my wife Melba. I served on the La Grange Fire Department for 20 years and served as the fire chief for 10 of them. I've also served on the La Grange Planning Board and as Chairman of the La Grange Board of Adjustments. I've served on the La Grange Town Council for the last 10 years."

"I'm running for mayor to continue leading the town in a positive direction," Holmes said. "I would like to see any change to La Grange that would be beneficial to the town and its citizens as a whole."

Bobby Wooten: "I was born and raised in La Grange, and except for the time I spent serving my country in the Air Force, I’ve spent most of my adult life here. I am retired from E.I. Dupont Company. I’ve been married to my wife Nancy for 49 years, we have one daughter, Candace who lives in Atlanta. I’ve been serving the citizens of La Grange for 22 years. I’m running for mayor because I feel that if we are to progress as a community, good leadership is essential. I believe that with my 22 years of knowledge and experience in local government, I can provide that leadership." 

"I would like to see local government work with the downtown property owners to see if we could somehow preserve those historic buildings," Wooten said. "I know it will be a challenge, but I believe the construction of the interchange at Little Baltimore could present some unique opportunities for La Grange. There are several groups working to bring the citizens of our town together to make it a better place. I applaud those groups, and whether I am elected mayor or not I pledge my continued support for those groups and individuals."

As for the three available La Grange Town Council seats, five candidates have thrown their hats into the ring. Incumbents Larry Gladney, Albert Gray, and Clifton Harrison face challenges from newcomers Andre Cannon and Reid Rouse.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For questions related to voting in Lenoir County, please call the Lenoir County Board of Elections at 252.523.0636.