Conover Mayor Bruce Eckard will have some competition for the post in the upcoming municipal elections from a council member. Lee Moritz Jr. said he plans to submit a notice of candidacy for the post at 8 a.m. on Monday, when filing opens.

“I just feel like I’d like to continue to serve the citizens in a little different capacity,” Moritz said.

Eckard said while he hasn’t made up his mind for certain, he’s pretty sure he’ll run again. The incumbent mayor was first elected in 1989.

“I just like serving the people,” he said. “I like being able to represent the city at various functions and helping to plan for the future.”

In particular, Eckard said it’s important to him to ensure Conover stays progressive and keeps a low tax rate while making sure the city continues doing things “The Conover Way.”

A couple other incumbents stated they also plan to run for reelection.

Conover council member Johnny Brown said he’ll run for another four-year term. He’s currently serving his first term on the Conover City Council after 16 years on the city planning board. Brown said he’s proud of what the city has done, especially in regards to the Broyhill – Conover Station project, as well as others that have yet to be announced.

“I would like another four years to accomplish what we started,” he said.

In Maiden, council member Marcus Midgett said he’ll definitely run for another term. He said he plans to file sometime next week. He was elected as a write-in candidate four years ago and elected on the ballot twice, for a total of about 12 years of service to the town.

Howard Ervin is in the midst of his first four-year term on the Maiden Town Council and said he’s undecided whether he’ll run again.

Meanwhile, Claremont will have at least two positions where no incumbents will be running for office.

Mayor Glenn Morrison said he will not seek reelection after 12 years of service in the post.

“It’s not that I’m sick or unable to do it,” he said. “I feel like it’s the time to relinquish it and let someone else step up.”

He said his time as mayor has been very educational. He said the position has allowed him to learn more about the city than he could as a citizen.

Morrison said he’ll continue to be active in Claremont through library committee, the appearance committee and the Jaycees.

Claremont councilwoman Judy Setzer will also not be running. She has spent 13 years on the Claremont City Council.

“I just decided it was probably time for someone else to have a chance to be on (the council),” Setzer said.

Election filing will start Monday morning at 8 a.m. at the Catawba County Board of Elections in Newton and continue until noon on July 17. For a full list of positions available and filing fees, go to the Web site at www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/elect/.