City & town

Council Member, Town of Rutherfordton

Vote for: 2
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 6
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the governing board of the town of Rutherfordton, which adopts its budget and ordinances.

Nonpartisan.

Candidates Compare by issue

Ricky Gilbert

No party listed

The gist

Supports cleaning up blighted neighborhoods
Pledges to keep taxes low and watch town spending
Supports recruiting more restaurants and businesses downtown
Supports upgrading Crestview Park

More about Ricky

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Supports cleaning up blighted neighborhoods
Neighborhood blight on list for Rutherfordton candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“We need to start cleaning up some of the neighborhoods a little bit,”
Pledges to keep taxes low and watch town spending
Neighborhood blight on list for Rutherfordton candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“He's an advocate for the town's seniors and wants to keep taxes low.”
Supports recruiting more restaurants and businesses downtown
Neighborhood blight on list for Rutherfordton candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“We need to find a way to offer a different variety of restaurants and work to bring more people into town,”
Supports upgrading Crestview Park
Neighborhood blight on list for Rutherfordton candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“He agrees Crestview Park needs to be upgraded.”

Christy Freeman Houser

No party listed

Owner, Mill Hill General Store

The gist

Supports more housing options, including workforce housing
Supports continued downtown business growth
Supports broad public input on the town's future

More about Christy

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Supports more housing options, including workforce housing
'Growth is coming' says council candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“What she hears most from area residents is a need for more housing options including workforce housing”
Supports continued downtown business growth
'Growth is coming' says council candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“We all need to be very forward thinking about positive growth,”
Supports broad public input on the town's future
'Growth is coming' says council candidate
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“The biggest thing we need to work on is bringing as many people as we can to the table”

Bobby Ray Miller, Jr.

No party listed

Owner, Small Town Coffee Roasters

The gist

Proposes raising pay for town first responders
Supports more affordable housing in town
Proposes partnerships to address the mental health crisis

More about Bobby

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Proposes raising pay for town first responders
Council hopeful wants pay increase for first responders
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“Miller wants to help increase pay for the town's first responders so they are more likely to stay.”
Supports more affordable housing in town
Council hopeful wants pay increase for first responders
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“For Miller, more affordable housing is needed in town.”
Proposes partnerships to address the mental health crisis
Council hopeful wants pay increase for first responders
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“Miller believes he can build stronger partnerships with local agencies to better address the area's mental health crisis.”

Jeff Wells

No party listed

Licensed therapist

The gist

Opposes further town tax increases
Proposes slowing spending and capital projects
Supports a homeless shelter shared with Spindale and Forest City
Opposes current utility fees as too high

More about Jeff

View sources (1)

Opposes further town tax increases
Stop using seniors as an ATM says council hopeful
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“We don't need anymore tax increases,”
Proposes slowing spending and capital projects
Stop using seniors as an ATM says council hopeful
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“I am all for slowing down expenditures and capital projects,”
Supports a homeless shelter shared with Spindale and Forest City
Stop using seniors as an ATM says council hopeful
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“He's a strong proponent for building a homeless shelter in partnership with Spindale and Forest City”
Opposes current utility fees as too high
Stop using seniors as an ATM says council hopeful
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 18, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“Fees on utilities are also too high, he said.”

Stanley Lennon (Stan) Clements

No party listedIncumbent

Rutherfordton Town Council member

The gist

Supports a new police station and town hall
Supports a long-term plan for population growth
Supports expanding the Purple Martin Greenway Trail
Supports funding for the town's first responders

More about Stanley

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Supports a new police station and town hall
Incumbent believes best yet to come for Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“There's the new police station and town hall coming and we still need to get grants for it.”
Supports a long-term plan for population growth
Incumbent believes best yet to come for Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“We need to develop a long-term plan that is consistent with our increase in population.”
Supports expanding the Purple Martin Greenway Trail
Incumbent believes best yet to come for Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“wants to see more development of the Purple Martin Greenway Trail in the future.”
Supports funding for the town's first responders
Incumbent believes best yet to come for Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 21, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“Clements is also a big proponent of supporting the town's first responders and providing the necessary funding”

Doris Crute

No party listedIncumbent

Rutherfordton Town Council member

The gist

Supports housing for all ages, especially seniors and under-40s
Supports more outdoor recreation for all ages
Supports the U.S. 221 Bypass Project
Supports fixing local roads and keeping neighborhoods safe

More about Doris

View sources (1)

Supports housing for all ages, especially seniors and under-40s
Council candidate supports more housing options in Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 24, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“Crute said she believes providing housing across all demographics is important, especially for seniors and those under 40.”
Supports more outdoor recreation for all ages
Council candidate supports more housing options in Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 24, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“Crute also believes the town needs to do more to create outdoor recreational activities for all ages.”
Supports the U.S. 221 Bypass Project
Council candidate supports more housing options in Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 24, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“She also supports the U.S. 221 Bypass Project in Rutherfordton.”
Supports fixing local roads and keeping neighborhoods safe
Council candidate supports more housing options in Rutherfordton
Interview · The Daily Courier · Sep 24, 2026 · thedigitalcourier.com
“There also needs to be more done to fix local roads and keep neighborhoods safe, she said.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.