The two incumbents seeking reelection, Mayor Herbert "Tooie" Hales and Councilman Mark Smith, think the budget's in good shape. They want to continue the infrastructure projects the town has taken on, such as sewer lift stations and drainage improvements.

"We're financially sound," Hales said.

On the other side of the debate are the challengers seeking to unseat Hales and Smith and fill the seat of departing Councilman Scott Turik. They think the town needs to cut back on spending, and some are concerned Kenly could be in dire financial straits.

"I don't know if we're as bad as the Titantic, but the iceberg is right in front of us," said David Grady, who is running for mayor, a post he stepped down from six years ago.

The Kenly Kiwanis Club will hold a candidates' forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Kenly Fire Department, 101 W. 1st St., Kenly.

Hales and Grady are the candidates for mayor. In addition to Smith, the council candidates are Becky Askew, Sherrill Dawson, Linda Lassiter Bonnie Hartley Williamson. Their profiles appear below.

David Grady

Occupation: owner of The Insurance Shoppe in Smithfield.

Address: 605 E. 2nd St.

Experience: mayor, 2001-2003; town councilman, 1983-1987; past chairman of Kenly Civic Center.

On why he's getting back into town politics: Grady said he quit in 2003 so he could attend his kids' high school games. Now they're in college. "I feel like I want to be mayor again."

On the town's finances: "I think we're going to find that we have some serious financial problems. I don't put the heat on Tooie [Hales] for that as much as the manager. There's going to be a lot of hard decisions made in Kenly in the next four or five years."

On the town's next steps: "I don't think you can push the town to do anything. I think the next board is going to have to be very reactive instead of being able to be proactive."

On the next town manager: "I think we need a seasoned manager. The budget may only allow us to hire somebody part-time."

On condemned buildings: "You've got to have a manager that understands N.C. real estate law. We made legal snafus [in dealing with dilapidated buildings.] You've got to make sure you're doing it within the law."

Herbert 'Tooie' Hales

Occupation: engineer with ATC Associates in Raleigh.

Address: 405 S. College Ave.

Experience: mayor since 2003, also coaches sports teams

On the town's infrastructure: "The main thing is just to keep pushing for the infrastructure improvements." He cited drainage projects, new sewer lift stations and a renovation of the town gym as major accomplishments during his tenure as mayor.

On the budget: Hales said earlier town councils built up cash reserves while ignoring much-needed infrastructure projects. "We're paying now for what could have been a lot cheaper had maintenance kept up. These weren't optional spending sprees that we went on."

On downtown: He said he wants to get more people involved in improving the downtown scene. "We've already offered small grants to help property owners make an improvement. We've completed a study of our downtown area."

On condemned buildings: "It's something else that you've got to stay on. It takes financial resources to push those issues. In these times, that's hard to do."

On hiring a new town manager: Hales said he wants someone with experience in small towns who finds them attractive. "Certainly being a town our size, we don't have the finances for the top-dollar, big city, most experienced person."

Becky Askew

Occupation: part-time employee at Manheim North Carolina.

Address: 403 Fremont St.

Experience: captain on the Kenly Community Watch, write-in candidate in 2007 council race.

On the town's progress: "There's nothing changed -- the town looks just like it was two years ago. A lot of the projects haven't been discussed. I think Community Watch is doing a lot of projects that the town should have done."

On community involvement: Askew said she wants to get more people coming to Town Council meetings. "Right now, there doesn't seem to be a lot of people interested in it."

On the town's image: "We just need to get our town cleaned up looks-wise. I would love to see Kenly grow more. That all falls back into having the town cleaned up."

On recycling: "Recycling's good, and we need to do it. That's an issue that's got to be brought up."

Sherrill Dawson

Occupation: salesman for Corrugated Container Co.

Address: 202 Wilson St.

Experience: past president of Lions Club, board member of the Kenly Area Chamber of Commerce, board member of Cardinal Country Club.

On the town budget: "I want to be held accountable for spending the citizens' money. The budget has been overspent for the past two years. I want the citizens to feel that their tax dollars are going to help them."

On growth: "It's eventually going to filter up to the Kenly area. We've got to be prepared to accept that growth... . We need to have some buildings in the industrial park that will have town citizens as employees. I don't want to have growth for the sake of growth."

On condemned buildings: "You can't put yourself in a positive manner with dilapidated buildings." Dawson wants town leaders and owners of condemned buildings to meet and find a compromise.

On the decision to hire former Smithfield manager Pete Connet as interim town manager for $45 an hour: "I don't think we need to be spending money that way. I would not have voted for an interim manager at this time."

Linda Lassiter

Occupation: homemaker, retired from Wal-Mart.

Address: 510-B W. 7th St.

Experience: has attended recent council meetings.

On recreation: Lassiter said one of her main goals is to start more recreation programs for the town's kids. She's particularly concerned about kids who don't like standard sports like basketball or baseball. "[Kids] don't have anything to do out here but get in trouble. I want the parents to get more involved."

On community involvement: She said she would seek out residents' opinions if elected. "My concern is what the people want. We don't ask what the town can do for us."

On the town budget: Lassiter said the town should cut back on spending.

On recycling: "I think it will help the town."

On growth: Lassister wants to bring businesses into town that will provide jobs for residents.

Mark Smith

Occupation: vice president of Billings and Garrett Utility Contractors Inc. in Raleigh.

Address: 404 E. Rose Lane.

Experience: town councilman for 12 years; also involved in Kenly Civitan Club and recreation programs.

On the town's infrastructure: Smith said the current council's biggest accomplishments are drainage projects and redoing sewer pump stations. "There's still a lot of work to be done."

On the budget: Smith said he disagrees with criticism of the town's spending. He thinks spending was necessary to complete infrastructure projects. "There's been more done in the last four years than in the last 25 years."

On condemned buildings: "I think the town's approaching that in a very good manner."

On downtown: Smith wants to continue downtown-revitalization efforts with incentives, such as façade grants, for owners to spruce up their buildings.

Bonnie Williamson

Occupation: administrative assistant for Manheim North Carolina.

Address: 401 Bailey St.

Experience: member of Kenly Community Watch, past president of Kenly Woman's Club.

On the town budget: "The main issue is the budget, trying to get that fixed. I know there's been a lot of expenses. I think it needs to be looked at a lot closer."

On the town's appearance: Williamson said she wants to do more to beautify and clean up the town. She supports curbside recycling if the state requires the town to restart the program. She also wants to bring in more development, particularly residential and retail.

On condemned buildings: She said she wants the town to take the proper legal steps in dealing with dilapidated buildings. She says she has experience in dealing with such situations. "They need to go the proper steps."