Why It’s Important..

Election time is upon us again, and while campaign signs are popping up at every stoplight, the truth is those signs don’t tell us much about the people behind them. Historically speaking, voter turnout in our local elections has been dismal. Some folks simply don’t care but for many, it’s because they don’t know where or when to vote, or who the candidates even are. Unfortunately, there’s very little information online to make that easier. Especially when it comes to learning about the candidates.

According to recent estimates, Mooresville’s population is approaching 90,000 residents. Yet in the 2023 municipal election, only about 5,000 people voted. That means less than 6% of our town had a say in who represents us and makes decisions about our growth, safety, and infrastructure.

Why Local Leadership Matters:

I serve as President of the Morrison Plantation Master Association, which oversees 63 residential and commercial associations within our community. In that role, I’ve had frequent interactions with both town employees and elected officials.

One of those officials is Lisa Qualls, our Ward 4 Commissioner, who is up for re-election this year. I would be remiss if I didn’t share the kind of leadership I’ve personally seen from her and, I believe that its important for everyone to know what she is currently working on.

On a neighborhood level, Lisa has been instrumental in protecting Morrison Plantation from several development proposals that could have created serious safety and traffic concerns. Whenever an issue has come up, all it has ever taken is a single phone call—and she handles it immediately. She also played a key role in getting the residential roads within Morrison Plantation repaved earlier this year, something many of us have greatly appreciated.

Those are small-scale victories that directly affect our day-to-day lives, but Lisa has also been working on much bigger issues that could have a lasting impact across all of Mooresville.

Several months ago, I sent out an email about the toll lanes on I-77

Last week, while reviewing my toll bill, I noticed it cost me over $100 for a single round trip to Charlotte. You read that right. One round trip = $107.
Read more about the toll lanes here.

As frustrating as that is, there’s a bit of good news. I-77 Mobility Partners (the company that operates the toll lanes) have recently approached NCDOT to discuss options to widen the toll lanes through Mooresville.

If you’ve ever paid attention while driving south, you may have noticed that the toll lane only has one lane through Iredell County, but once you cross into Mecklenburg, it opens up to two lanes all the way into Charlotte. When the original contract was signed years ago, state officials in Raleigh agreed to a 50-year contract that essentially locked us into the ridiculous fees that we must pay to utilize the toll lanes — literal highway robbery.

The fact that discussions are now on the table gives Mooresville a rare chance to potentially renegotiate parts of that contract and fight for fairer terms for local residents. Lisa has spent nearly a decade building relationships with key figures at NCDOT and the NC Turnpike Authority, and they are developing a plan to push for:

• A “soft toll cap” for frequent local users
• Discounts for Iredell County residents
• The addition of a second general-purpose lane to improve flow
• Fast-tracking the development of Exit 38 (Cornelius Road) to give tractor trailers and employees direct access to Mooresville’s business parks in order to reduce congestion on Highway 150.

These initiatives could make a massive difference for everyone who lives and works here.

A town’s future, from growth management to traffic relief, to how our taxes are spent is shaped by a small group of elected officials. The fewer people who vote, the less representative those decisions become. So please, take a few minutes this week to learn about the candidates, confirm your polling place, and make your plan to vote on November 4. Even one vote can make a real difference right here at home.

Thank you for caring about our community and for taking the time to stay informed.