Dear Neighbors,
🇺🇸 A reminder to VOTE Tuesday November 4! Your vote will be critical to protecting and preserving Weddington. To find your voting location click here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/reglkup/
🇺🇸To learn more about the candidates READ BELOW - and please join us at our Facebook Group Stewards of Weddington https://www.facebook.com/groups/stewardsofweddington
A Look At The Candidates For Town Council — Safety, Infrastructure, and Responsible Growth
Thank you to everyone who signed and shared the petition opposing Toll Brothers’ “Deal Lake.” Your voices mattered. The application was denied—with Mayor Jim Bell casting the tie-breaking vote—because residents raised clear concerns about stormwater, lake impacts, septic feasibility, traffic near schools, infrastructure strain, and environmental risk. This update recaps where things stand and how each candidate has approached Deal Lake and related growth issues so you can stay informed.
Status: Deal Lake was denied. The site, impacts to lakes and wetlands, downstream sedimentation risk, added traffic on Providence/84, school capacity concerns, and compliance with the UDO were central to resident objections. Developers can revise or return, so staying engaged remains important — they could come back as early as June 2026.
Mayor Jim Bell — Steady, Resident-First Leadership
Record on Deal Lake: Opposed the application and cast the tie-breaking vote to deny it—citing infrastructure, environmental, and public-interest concerns.
Growth & Commercial Expansion: Supports keeping commercial activity inside the existing downtown overlay and has opposed efforts to expand commercial sprawl (including Polivka Perry South).
Safety & Enforcement: Led hiring of two additional deputies for 24/7 coverage and the installation of Flock Safety cameras, improving response times and roadway safety.
Infrastructure Voice: Works closely with CRTPO and NCDOT to keep Weddington’s needs on the table.
Mayor Bell’s actions on Deal Lake matched his commitments—protect lakes, protect neighborhoods, and enforce the UDO—while maintaining Weddington’s rural character.
Ellen McLaughlin — Public Safety, Accountability, A Drive for Excellence
Record on Development: Publicly opposed Deal Lake, raising concerns about stormwater, lake health, and downstream impacts, and calling for resident-first planning.
Commercial Policy: Supports limiting commercial to the current downtown overlay; opposes expansion that pushes sprawl toward schools and neighborhoods.
Safety Leadership: Founder of Weddington Watch (now 30+ neighborhoods), partnering with UCSO and Crime Stoppers to improve alerts, coordination, and prevention.
Lots, Environment & Balance: Advocates restoring one-acre lots and expanding open space protections—aiming for a practical balance between property rights and environmental stewardship so Weddington keeps its small-town feel.
McLaughlin’s record reflects action—clear limits on commercial growth, stronger stormwater accountability, and leadership that keeps neighborhoods safe.
Clayton Jones — Experience and Steady Judgment
Record on Development: Spoke against Polivka Perry South and has consistently favored responsible, UDO-compliant growth; opposed Toll Brothers Deal Lake - attending meetings and staying involved.
Background: Retired JAG officer and Assistant District Attorney with decades in law and public safety—useful for interpreting/strengthening ordinances and holding violators accountable.
Jones’s experience and even-handed approach have earned residents’ trust for practical, ethical leadership that prioritizes safety, infrastructure, and preservation of Weddington’s rural character.
Christopher Neve — Silent on Deal Lake, Unclear on Growth
Record on Deal Lake: Did not take a public stand when Deal Lake was debated; did not speak alongside residents who opposed it.
Commercial Expansion: Neve remained silent while residents rallied to protect their town, never weighing in on the Polivka Perry South proposal or the commercial expansion efforts that followed its denial.
Public Safety Stance: As a volunteer reserve officer (Waxhaw PD), questioned hiring two additional deputies—positions that now deliver 24/7 coverage and faster response times.
Campaign Messaging: Repeats claims about higher Weddington taxes and crime that contradict verified data—Weddington has one of the lowest tax rates and lowest crime rates in Union County.
On Deal Lake and development, Neve rode the middle instead of standing with residents. He never sent one email to the town of Weddington regarding any development or text amendment concerns. Neve is supported by many pro development people, including planning board members who were in favor of Deal Lake.
Neve’s campaign centers on transparency, yet he hasn’t been forthcoming about his education or work history—this election or the last.
Weddington needs open, transparent leadership — someone who stands with residents and communicates clearly about where they stand on key issues.
Anne Marie Anderson Cruz — “Reimagining” Means More Commercial Growth
Record on Growth:
Campaign slogan “Reimagining Weddington” aligns with expanding commercial activity beyond the downtown overlay, advocating for the mixed use Polivka Perry South proposal/expansion which is adjacent to their 50+ acre property, The Hunter Farms.
Conflict of Interests: Her family’s Hunter Farm lies within the Providence Road commercial corridor. Her mother, Nancy Anderson (recent Planning Board member and former four-term mayor), recused herself from votes on Polivka Perry South after later publicly advocating for the project at their public hearing. Anne Marie also spoke at a recent Town Council Meeting in support of the Polivka Perry South Project.
Regarding Toll Brothers Deal Lake, Nancy Anderson spoke at Toll Brothers public hearing for Deal Lake in support of the project stating her family was long time friends of The Deal family, yet she didn't recuse herself when the project came before her. If Anne Marie gets voted onto Town Council, she may have to state a conflict of interest, that her mother did not. Polivka Perry South would be a conflict of interest when it comes back in January and so would Toll Brothers Deal Lake. How many more conflicts would she potentially have with friends and relatives owning land all over town?
Anne Marie Anderson Cruz moved back to Weddington in June 2025 and filed to run for Weddington Town Council July 2025. She listed her permanent residence at The Hunter Farms, her parents address which is in District 1. Property records show Anne Marie's husband purchasing their family a home in District 4 close to 4 years ago. In her campaign messaging she talks of owning a house in Weddington since 2021. District 1 had an opening for Weddington Town Council this election - District 4 wont come open for another two years. If elected Anne Marie would be required to live in the District she filed in.
Public Safety Messaging: Has not emphasized safety or infrastructure limits, even as nearby areas with heavy commercial growth (Rea Farms, Waverly) less than a mile away from her farm, face increased crime and congestion.
Anne Marie’s “Reimagining Weddington” platform points toward more mixed-use, commercial development—risking the same environmental and infrastructure consequences that led residents to oppose Deal Lake. We've heard from a few residents about Anne Marie and her mother Nancy's plans to expand commercial development in Weddington. We've shared the details on this over at our Facebook group.
Why This Matters After Toll Brothers Deal Lake Denial
A denial can be followed by revised submissions. The issues that defeated Deal Lake—stormwater engineering, septic feasibility, traffic near schools, and environmental risk—will be the issues again if anything returns. Developers can reapply as early as June 2026, so staying engaged remains essential.
That means the quality of leadership at Town Hall—and on the Planning Board—still matters. Guardrails must hold: UDO adherence, environmental standards, meaningful public process, and credible engineering.
🇺🇸 Closing
Mayor Bell, Ellen McLaughlin, and Clayton Jones have demonstrated steady, informed leadership that prioritizes safety, transparency, and advocating for responsible growth—the same approach that stopped Deal Lake and protects our town from irresponsible development that could impact neighbors and our environment, stripping away the rural character of our town.
As residents, we share a common goal: safeguarding Weddington’s quality of life, rural character, and strong sense of community. 🇺🇸
🇺🇸 Please vote Tuesday November 4 - your vote will ensure Weddington stays protected and preserved.
To find your voting location click here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/reglkup/
Warm regards,
Chad and Melissa Emerine
Weddington residents
Facebook Group Stewards of Weddington https://www.facebook.com/groups/stewardsofweddington