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INSIDE ▼ Southminster to study creative aging
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PAGE 1B Friday, March 13, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 10
thecharlotteweekly.com/ucweekly
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‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ springs onto Matthews stage
College program to help inmates re-enter workforce
MATTHEWS – Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts will present “The Velveteen Rabbit” from April 24 to May 3 as part of its 30th season mainstage lineup.
Jill Bloede will direct the show. The play runs 60 minutes and is performed in one act. Matthews Playhouse fans may recognize her work from local productions of “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “Young Frankenstein.” She’s also directed “Murder on the Orient Express” for Theatre Charlotte. The play is adapted by Scott Davidson and based on the book of the same name by Margery Williams. The story follows a toy rabbit who longs to become real through the power of love and imagination. This tale resonates with people of all ages thanks to themes of friendship, resilience and the transformative nature of love. The Matthews performance is recommended for ages 6 and older. Matthews Playhouse presents “The Velveteen Rabbit” at 7:30 p.m. April 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 25, 2 p.m. April 26, 7:30 p.m. May 1, 2 (sensory performance) and 7:30 p.m. May 2 and
2 p.m. May 3 at the Matthews Community Center, 100 E. McDowell St. Tickets are available at matthewsplayhouse.com or over the phone at 704846-8343, with special pricing for students, seniors, military and children. Special Events
• Matthews Playhouse offers a paywhat-you-can performance at 7:30 p.m. April 23. There’s a suggested donation of $10, though any amount is accepted at the door for nonprofit partner Thompson. • Matthews Playhouse will present A Velveteen Rabbit Tea Party following the April 26 matinee performance of “The Velveteen Rabbit” from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25. Learn more at matthewsplayhouse.com/30th-anniversary. • Matthews Playhouse has scheduled weekday school performances at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. April 24, 28, 29 and 30 as well as May 1. Visit matthewsplayhouse. com/plan-your-field-trip for details.
MONROE – South Piedmont Community College will become one of the first colleges in the state to offer IT courses inside a correctional facility when it launches a new program at Anson Correctional Institution later this year.
Election Recap: Monroe challengers connect with voters by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MONROE – Republicans who voted in the March 3 primary election sought major change on the Monroe City Council while wanting to stay the course with the Union Board of County Commissioners.
Monroe voters chose David Dotson for mayor and challengers Parker Mills, Michelle Ball and Heidi Petterson to represent them on the Monroe City Council, according to unofficial results from the Union County Board of Elections. If the March 3 results don’t change, Petterson defeated incumbent Gary Anderson for the third and final council seat by only five votes. March 13 is when the primary election results are scheduled to be certified. All three incumbents in the Monroe City Council race – Anderson, James Kerr and Julie Thompson – have been unseated by challengers. Ball, who was the second-highest vote-getter in the council race, thanked the Lord, family and citizens after her win. “Your quiet encouragement and vote has meant everything to me,” Ball wrote on Facebook. “There has most certainly been a mandate given from ‘We the people’ that we will not tolerate any type of grooming or abuse towards our children. I pray that our city manager, city attorney and the other sitting council members are paying attention to what Monroe really wants. We truly want a family-friendly city that thrives and that we can be proud of! ‘Don’t Mecklenburg our Monroe!’” The three winners of the primary will advance to the general election, where they will face Democratic challenger Kensley McCoy. Dotson, who was endorsed by outgoing Mayor Robert Burns, earned 1,259 votes, or 58.34%, to defeat former Union County Chamber leader Pat Kahle. “I worked hard to earn your vote because you deserve that effort,” Dotson wrote on Facebook. “I share the same work ethic as many of you, and I believe in rolling up my sleeves and getting the job done.” Dotson will campaign against fellow Councilmember Surluta Anthony in the general election. Union County commissioners Brian Helms and Melissa Merrell were reelected. They continued their Conservative Red Wall theme from the
last election, substituting the late Stony Rushing with challenger Sam Harris, who serves as a member of the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. The trio were the top three vote-getters in a six-candidate Republican primary that included former Stallings Mayor Wyatt Dunn. They’ll advance to the general election, where Democratic challenger Christina Dupont will be waiting. Merrell finished third with a 652-vote lead over fourth-place finisher Patrick Tyson. “God is so, so good, and may truth always win in His name, honor and glory,” Merrell wrote on Facebook. “To all of my family, friends, volunteers and voters in Sweet Union, I could never do this without you, nor would I want to! Thank you.” Union County Commissioner Clancy Baucom ran for Mark Brody’s District 55 seat in the N.C. House of Representatives, a decision that has paid off so far. Baucom claimed 79.49% of the vote in the three-candidate race. He’ll take on Union County Board of Education member John Kirkpatrick IV in November. Three school board races had primaries. Linda O. Robinson, a teacher with 30-plus years of experience, won the Republican primary for Jimmy Bention Sr.’s at-large seat. Robinson earned 56.5% of the vote in a four-candidate Republican primary that included District 4 rep Sandra Greene. Robinson will face Alexis Stadler in the general election. Brittany Cabuno defeated Derrick Lewis in the Democratic primary for Greene’s District 4 seat. Cabuno takes on Republican Stephen Smith in the general election. “I’m incredibly grateful for the support in today’s primary,” Cabuno wrote on her campaign page. “Your encouragement, conversations and votes mean so much to me. This campaign is about our students, our teachers and our community, and I look forward to meeting and talking with as many people in District 4 as possible in the months ahead.” Barry Tucker, who was appointed to the school board’s District 3 seat in January 2025, held off challenger Terri Blumer in the Republican primary. Tucker won’t have an opponent in the general election. Unofficial results
Here are unofficial results from select races in the March 3 election posted by the Union County Board of Elections. The certification of the
primary votes is scheduled for March 13. N.C. House of Representatives District 55 (Republican Primary)
• Clancy Baucom, 3,716 (79.49%) WIN • John Powell, 639 (13.67%) • Richard T. Miller, 320 (6.84%)
Union County Board of Commissioners (Republican Primary)
• Brian W. Helms, 10,776 (24.30%) WIN • Sam Harris, 9,647 (21.76%) WIN • Melissa M. Merrell, 8,504 (19.18%) WIN • Patrick Tyson, 7,852 (17.71%) • Wyatt Dunn, 3,960 (8.93%) • Elizabeth Lee, 3,599 (8.12%)
Union County Board of Education AtLarge (Republican Primary)
• Linda O. Robinson, 8,436 (56.50%) WIN • Sandra Hernandez Greene, 2,242 (15.02%) • Wilden Harbour, 2,159 (14.46%) • Raven Faherty, 2,094 (14.02%)
Union County Board of Education District 3 (Republican Primary)
• Barry Tucker, 1,673 (53.79%) WIN • Terri Blumer, 1,437 (46.21%)
Union County Board of Education District 4 (Democratic Primary)
• Brittany Cabuno, 1,182 (71.16%) WIN • Derrick Lewis, 479 (28.84%)
Union County Sheriff (Republican Primary)
• Eddie Cathey, 14,099 (84.46%) WIN • Todd Elmore, 2,087 (12.50%) • Terry Boag, 508 (3.04%)
City of Monroe Mayor (Republican Primary)
• David Dotson, 1,259 (58.34%) WIN • Pat Kahle, 899 (41.66%)
City of Monroe Council (Republican Primary)
• Parker Mills, 1,371 (23.46%) WIN • Michelle Ball, 1,013 (17.33%) WIN • Heidi Petterson, 935 (16.00%) WIN • Gary Anderson, 930 (15.91%) • James Kerr, 822 (14.06%) • Julie Thompson, 774 (13.24%)
“This program is going to provide the participants with the chance to gain high-demand skills,” said Jason Miller, correctional education director. “They’ll be able to earn a sustainable living wage when they re-enter the workforce. If they can make a living when they leave the prison, it’s less likely that they will return. “We advocate for this population. We want to always give them every opportunity to support themselves and build a life for themselves in society.” The new program will last about six months and is designed to provide participants with foundational knowledge in the IT industry. They will be able to study and test for four CompTIA certifications, including Tech Plus, A Plus, and Network Plus (CompTIA is a leading nonprofit trade association that awards IT certifications). Participants will also be able to earn Microsoft Endpoint Administration certification. The program at Anson Correctional will be taught by Stephen Palmer, who currently teaches human resources development courses inside the prison. Palmer, a former IT specialist, is excited to blend his experience in IT with his passion for teaching incarcerated students. “The students are excited. They want to keep learning,” he said. “I’m excited to give them another opportunity to be successful.” Miller said he hopes to expand IT offerings at the prison in the future. “This is the first pebble,” he said. “We’re throwing it to start the ripple.”
Where counties differed with the state in voting by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
For the most part, unofficial voting results in Mecklenburg and Union counties mirrored state results for larger races in the March 3 election. Most of the differences can be chalked up to Union County candidates receiving more votes in their communities. N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 1
Monroe resident Matt Smith lost to Michael Byrne in the Republican primary for Seat 1 of the N.C. Court of Appeals. Byrne earned 301,730 votes, or 51.54% statewide. He had 18,070 more votes than Smith. Smith, who serves as a Superior Court judge, fared much better in Mecklenburg and Union counties.
He was the preferred candidate in Union County with 10,722 votes, or 70.54%. He led in every Union County precinct except Precinct 1, where he tied Byrne with 16 votes. Smith picked up another 11,359 votes in Mecklenburg County, trailing Byrne by 872. Smith had small leads in several southeastern precincts in Mecklenburg County. “This is a loss I will carry with me for a very long time,” Smith shared on Facebook. “It does sting deeply. However, I am so grateful for all the people I have met along the way. There are so many dedicated individuals among us who serve with great purpose. It has been my honor to have your consideration in this endeavor.” Smith said he will continue serving as a Superior Court judge. Byrne will go on to face Democrat John Arrowood in the general election.
U.S. Senate
Michael Whatley emerged as the winner among seven Republican candidates vying for a U.S. Senate seat. Whatley won the primary with 405,158 votes, or 64.57%, statewide. Waxhaw resident Don Brown came in second with 96,899 votes, or 15.6%. Brown had much stronger support at home, earning 31.2% of Union County votes. He trailed Whatley by 3,477 votes in Union County and even led in five precincts: 9, 11, 22, 33 and 28D. “I congratulate Michael Whatley on his victory and wish him success in the fight ahead against Roy Cooper,” Brown shared on Facebook. “Thank you to the thousands of supporters who stood with our campaign. Victory isn’t always about crossing the finish line first – sometimes it’s about the righteousness of the fight. We have a great nation and
a great Constitution worth defending. Let’s regroup, stay strong, and come back another day. I love you all.” There were slight variations in the order of finish in Mecklenburg County. Michele Morrow came in third instead of fourth, while Margot Dupre finished sixth instead of seventh. On the Democratic side of the race, former Gov. Roy Cooper earned more than 90% of the vote statewide as well as Mecklenburg and Union counties. Robert Colon came in fifth among Union voters instead of sixth. U.S. House, District 14
Lakesha Womack emerged as the Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 14, which includes Mecklenburg, Gaston, Story continues, see VOTE page 3A