Woody Washam, Sharon Washam and Commissioner Thurman Ross

July 21. Woodrow Washam Jr. will be the next mayor of Cornelius. As of noon today, no one else has filed to run against the long-time community leader, two-term town commissioner, banker and church organist. He has strong ties to the east side of town, where he was born and raised, and the west side of town, where he lives.

Everyone calls him Woody and he’s good with that.

Known as a coalition-builder, he is also against the tolls on I-77 which brought down his predecessor, Mayor Chuck Travis. Within days of Washam filing to run for mayor two weeks ago, Travis, who withstood a 5-0 no-confidence vote last year, finally said that he would not seek a third term.

Oddly enough, Travis ran unopposed for mayor two years ago. Meanwhile, in Huntersville, Mayor John Aneralla is also running unopposed. He soundly defeated a pro-toll multi-term incumbent in 2015.

Washam is part of the fabric of Cornelius, having played the organ at countless funerals and weddings. He is also Cornelius’ mayor pro tem, which means he filled in for Travis during multiple opportunities to represent the town at chamber of commerce events.

He is an active member of the Visit Lake Norman and United Way boards of directors, as well as a long-time member of the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club. He is a former chair of the Lake Norman Chamber as well as the Cornelius Transportation Advisory Board.

Washam was first elected to the Town Commission in 2013 coming in first in a field of 10 candidates. Fellow commissioners unanimously selected Washam to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem.

Washam, a senior vice president at Carolina Trust Bank, is married to Sharon Washam. They live on Chapel Point Lane.

He attended Cornelius Elementary School, J.M. Alexander Middle School and North Mecklenburg High School. Washam went on to attend Catawba College where he received a BA degree in Business Administration and a minor in Music.