Weddington mayor leaves office after four terms
After four terms in office, Weddington Mayor Nancy Anderson feels her job is almost done.
“We accomplished most of what I came here for,” Anderson said. “We got Providence (widened), we’re moving forward on Rea Road, we built a comprehensive transportation plan with three other towns.”
In the campaign filing season that ended earlier this month, Anderson decided not to run for a fifth term, saying it was time to turn the reigns over to someone new. After serving in the military and then eight years in office, Anderson said she wants to spend more time at home as a wife, mother and grandmother.
“I have a new philosophy,” Anderson said. “If I can’t do it from my front porch, I won’t do it. My husband and I run a mom and pop operation at the farm, but mom’s been gone for eight years. It’s time for me to step away.”
Anderson said her two new grandchildren, who live in Phoenix with their parents, also helped sway her mind. She travels to Phoenix once a month to visit.
“I’m not willing to be separated from that anymore,” Anderson said. “When there’s something I’m passionate about, I’ll come to the council like any other citizen and speak, but that’s it.”
As for her replacement, Anderson said she already has picked a candidate to support; Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Stephanie Belcher.
“I met Stephanie when she brought her scout troop to the farm,” Anderson said. “Since then, she’s been involved with the town. She’s very smart and has excellent leadership skills.”
She picked Belcher, Anderson said, was because of the differences between herself and the other mayoral candidate, Walker Davidson.
“Walker and I are philosophically very different,” Anderson said. “He speaks well, he runs a good meeting, but he’s written a lot now, so people can judge him on what he’s written before they vote.”
Before leaving however, Anderson said there were two things she hoped to address, namely solving the financial problems with Providence Fire Department and dealing with the water tank situation.
“We’re gonna fix this department,” Anderson said. “Our goal is the same as it has always been. We want a station there providing excellent coverage at an affordable price.”
As for the water tower, which the county plans to build on Providence Road, Anderson said she hoped to work with local officials to get the design switched from a water tower to water tanks, which couldn’t be seen from the road. Multiple residents who live near the planned tower protested both at Weddington meetings and on the county level, asking for some help.
“I believe that is the optimum decision,” Anderson said. “The residents were complaining about the visual, well we can fix that.”
Comments