DAVIDSON – Davidson features one of the more lively local races for town hall this fall. Planning Board member Vince Winegardner is challenging incumbent Mayor John Woods, who is seeking his third term. Seven candidates, including three incumbents, are vying for town board seats. With the departure of  incumbents Tim Dreffer and Margo Williams, who was the senior member of the town board, the commission is guaranteed at least two new members.
Here is a basic profile of all the candidates and how to contact them.
Mayoral candidates

Vince Winegardner
Age: 56
Family: Linda Winegardner and three grown children
Education: bachelor of science, industrial management; master of science, aviation safety; multiple Federal Aviation Administration licenses
Political Experience: President of River Run Property Owners Association;
Davidson Planning Board (appointed)
Job: Retired U.S. military officer; manages wife’s medical practice
Contact: vwinegardner@bellsouth.net; voteforvince.org

John M. Woods
Age: 62
Family: Wife, Diana: grown daughter, Kristin, and son, James
Education: North Mecklenburg High School, 1967;  bachelor of science, Presbyterian College, 1971; master’s in business administration, University of South Carolina, 1979; Louisiana State University’s Banking School of the South, 1981.
Political experience: Davidson town board member, 1997-2007; mayor,  2007 to present.
Job: First vice president, Peoples Bank; 38 years in banking industry; U.S. Army, 1971-73
Contact: 704-868-6917, jwoods@ci.davidson.nc.us

Board of Commissioners candidates

Kristen Coupal
Age: 40
Family: husband, Steven; two children, Kevin and Carly
Education: bachelor of science, mass communications, Emerson College, 1993
Political Experience: no previous political experience
Job: Freelance writer/researcher
Contact: 704-894-9107, kmcoupal@hotmail.com

Jim Fuller
Age: 69
Family: wife, Jean; three daughters; three grandchildren
Education: undergraduate degree, Davidson College; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School
Political experience: Davidson Planning Board (appointed); chairman, Growth Management Committee of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Job: Attorney, McIntosh Law Firm, Davidson; judge, N.C. Court of Appeals; taught trial advocacy at Duke University Law School, 20 years, beginning 25th year teaching at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School; teaching seminar at Davidson College, spring 2012
Contact: 704-895-2459, home; 704-892-1699, office; 704-575-7574, cell; jim@mcintoshlawfirm.com

Rodney Graham
Age: 48
Family: wife, Melissa; children, Marshall and Emma Claire
Education: bachelor of arts, political science, West Virginia University; master’s in business administration, Vanderbilt University
Political experience: No political experience
Job: Owner, John Marshall Custom Homes, of Davidson
Contact: 704-239-1124, home; 704-239-1124, cell; graham8401@aol.com; graham2011.com

Brian Jenest
Age: 54
Family: wife, Sarah; sons Colin, 24, and Peyton 21
Education: N.C. State University College of Design, 1979
Political Experience: (incumbent) Two terms on Davidson town board, first elected 2007; chairman, Lake Norman Transportation Commission; Davidson representative, Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization; former member, Davidson Planning Board
Job: Managing Principal, ColeJenest & Stone, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm in Charlotte
Contact: 704-971-4501, bjenest@colejeneststone.com

Mickey Pettus
Age: 59
Family: Wife Sondra; grown sons, Robert Pettus, Cornelius, and Jonathan Pettus, Huntersville
Education: bachelor of science, business administration, marketing-management, Western Carolina University, 1974
Political Experience: No political experience
Job: Heath care consultant, Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP
Contact: Phone: 704-896-7963; 704-904-6568, cell; bigguy.pettus@gmail.com

Laurie A. Venzon
Age: 48
Family: Married 26 years to John Venzon; two children, Christopher, 14, and Kathryn, 13
Education: bachelor of science, industrial management, Carnegie Mellon University
Political Experience: (incumbent) Two terms on Davidson town board, first elected 2007
Job: Former executive with Bank of America, retired in 2006 after 21 years; currently consultant/auditor for Vitex Inc.
Contact: 704-975-1615, lavenzon@gmail.com

Connie J. Wessner
Age: 48
Family: husband, Dave; son, Ian
Education: bachelor of arts, Franklin & Marshall; master’s, Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute; doctoral coursework, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Political Experience: (Incumbent) One term on Davidson town board
Job: administrator, Community School of Davidson
Contact: cwessner@ci.davidson.nc.us