Who wants to lead Gaston's cities and towns?
The filing period for elected office in several Gaston County cities and towns has passed the midway point. Residents of Belmont, Cramerton, Dallas, High Shoals, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly and Ranlo have until noon Friday, July 16, to file as candidate for municipal offices for the Nov. 2, 2021, election. Candidates seeking seats in Gastonia, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Kings Mountain and Stanley will file from July 26 to Aug. 13. The separate filing dates relate to a delay in census data. Those filing later elect candidates by districts. The following positions have been filed for the Municipal elections through July 12. Belmont mayor  Charlie Martin (incumbent)  Belmont council (two seats up for election)  Alex Szucs  Joe Green  Richard Turner (incumbent)  Cramerton mayor  Will Cauthen (incumbent)  Cramerton commissioner (two seats up for election)  Brad Milton  Dallas alderman (three seats up for election)  Frank Milton (incumbent)  Sam Martin  Starletta Hairston  High Shoals  Denese Cook (incumbent)  Lowell council (three seats up for election)  John Cato  Ken Ervin (incumbent)  Larry G. Simonds  McAdenville council (three seats up for election)  Jay McCosh (incumbent)  Mount Holly council (three seats up for election)  Kenneth E. Reeves  Scott Lilly  Lauren Shoemaker (incumbent)  Jesse Fields, Jr.  Ranlo mayor  Lynn Black (incumbent)  Robin Conner (commissioner)  Ranlo town commissioner (two seats up for election)  Wade Morton  Bryant James Moore  Lee Adams  Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_