Murphy – Mark your calendar to vote Tuesday, Nov. 2, when elections will be held for town mayor and council.
However, since there were the exact same number of candidates as there are positions, the following people are assured of taking office in December. Here’s a glimpse at each of them.
Mayor
Tim Radford
Other than the four years he attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tim Radford has lived in Cherokee County his entire life. The owner of WKRK radio in Murphy, Radford is running for mayor. He was first introduced to broadcasting during high school, and shortly after graduating college, the aspiring businessman bought the radio station when he was just 22.
Not only has he worked closely with Mayor Rick Ramsey, Radford has live-streamed town council meetings for Andrews and Murphy as well as commission and school board meetings. He has a good working relationship with elected officials at every level. By serving as mayor, he wants the town to continue to thrive and see its residents enjoy a great quality of life.
Radford’s sights are set on some hefty goals, such as broadband availability to every home in the county because students and those who work from home need it to stay competitive and be successful. He wants to attract large industries with good-paying jobs by creating more workforce housing and explore options for daycare and senior care. And because people have a right to feel secure in their homes and communities, he will focus on safety.
A problem-solver by nature, Radford listens to input from the community and values feedback from residents and business owners – everyone who pays taxes and has a vested interest in the town. As mayor, he will also meet with students who, as future leaders, have their unique perspectives regarding the future.
The past president of the Rotary Club of Murphy, Radford serves as Rotary District 7670 public image chair and is on the board of directors for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. He’s also a board member for the Downtown Associates Community Vision.
Town council
Frank Earl Dickey
Elected to the town council in 2005, Frank Earl Dickey attended Murphy High School and graduated cum laude from Western Carolina University in 1971.
A longtime local businessman, he plans to retire next year while remaining committed to serving the community. He’s proud of the board’s past improvements to the town, and said his goal is to keep Murphy in the forefront regarding social and business categories.
Dickey said he hopes everyone will get vaccinated to help save the lives of their family, friends and visitors.
Keisha Dockery
Born and raised in Murphy, Keisha Dockery married her high school sweetheart, Heath Dockery, and has remained in town since. The couple has a 6-year-old son, and Dockery owns The Black & White Market home décor and gift shop downtown. She had a career in office management before opening the retail store.
As a new member of the town council, Dockery said she wants to contribute the perspective of a small business owner. It’s her plan to keep growing the town in an organic way that is beneficial to locals and visitors.
She also has a passion for outdoor recreation and wants to keep improving outside spaces, such as a recent alley closure that is in the works to become a public seating area. Dockery hopes to take advantage of the area’s lakes and rivers and broaden the use of Konehete Park.
Barbara Hughes
The former first lady of Murphy when Bill Hughes was mayor, Barbara Hughes has been on the town council since November 2017. She studied education at Western Carolina University and Appalachian State University before serving Cherokee County Schools for 32 years.
The longtime local volunteer taught the intensive intervention class for special needs students, created the Home Bound Instruction program and began a Special Olympics program.
Barry McClure
A graduate of Hayesville High School, Barry McClure was first elected to the town council in 2013. He attended Young Harris (Ga.) College before earning a master’s degree in education from Western Carolina University.
For 20 years, McClure taught special education and reading at Murphy middle and high schools. He was also an administrator and principal of Murphy Middle School before retiring in 2016. And during the 2018-19 school year, McClure served as interim principal of The Oaks Academy.
Chandler Pash
Chandler Pash, 45, has lived in Cherokee County for three years. He and his wife, Dana Pash, have four children ages 7-21. A retired U.S. Air Force veteran of 20 years, he currently works part time as a correctional registered nurse and previously was an assistant jail administrator.
He’s not a politician, Pash said, but rather a father, husband and citizen looking to keep Murphy a great place to raise a family. As town council member, he plans to serve the community while guided by family values and common sense.
Because he’s witnessed firsthand how repeated drug and crime offenders have a negative effect on their communities, his overall goal is to ensure the safety and prosperity of local residents. He also wants to provide opportunities for personal growth, especially for the town’s young people.
Gail Walker Stansell
Gail Walker Stansell is a native of Murphy and graduate of Murphy High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mars Hill University and a master’s degree from Western Carolina University as well as an educational specialist degree from the University of Georgia. After 34 years of teaching biology and anatomy, Stansell retired from the Gwinnett County (Ga.) School System.
One milestone she looks forward to, Stansell said, is helping guide the MainStreet program, which will improve the appearance of downtown and bring more businesses to Murphy. In addition, she’s focused on increasing the number of visitors to town as a way of strengthening the local economy. More affordable housing also will be a major goal during the next four years.
By Tracy Barnes / Staff Correspondent