Results for Harrisburg Town Council

Harrisburg Town Council
Kirk J. Angel . . . . . . . . . 380 9.58
Leigh Thomas Brown . . . . . . . 197 4.97
Joe Hallatschek . . . . . . . . 449 11.32
Rhonda Poppen . . . . . . . . . 779 19.65
Jeffrey Redfern . . . . . . . . 653 16.47
Bob Scaggs . . . . . . . . . . 691 17.43
Bill Williams . . . . . . . . . 680 17.15
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 51 1.29

All vote totals taken from the Cabarrus County Board of Elections. All vote totals are unofficial until absentee ballots are counted Wednesday.

Harrisburg Town Council: Bill Williams- Independent

For Bill Williams, life didn’t slow down after retirement. If anything, he found himself getting invovled more in his church and community.

Williams, 63, was born and reared in Harrisburg, where his mother, herself originally from Harrisburg, and father, a Davidson County native, were both school teachers.

As such, education was always an important part of Williams’ life.
It was only fitting that after graduating from Harrisburg High School in 1962, Williams left Cabarrus County to continue his education at Appalachian State University.

It wasn’t long before Williams returned home to continue his parent’s legacy as an educator. He worked as a teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system at Myers Park and Garinger High Schools. He retired in 1996. Today, his daughter, Joy, has also dedicated herself to teaching and works with children at Harrisburg Elementary School.

In retirement, Williams tried his hand at entreprenuership when he and his brother-in-law opened the Firelight Inn, a fine-dining resaturant in what is now the Captain’s Galley building.

“We did that for 12 years,” Williams recalled. “We had a Sunday buffet that was well-attended.”

When the time came, the brothers sold the business, but Williams continued his active lifestyle, as he joined the Lion’s Club, served on the Harrisburg Town Council, and as an elder and current board member on the board of Covenant Church of Harrisburg.

When asked what he does on the rare occaison that he leaves Harrisburg in search of relaxation, the answer came quickly.

“We’ve got a cabin in the mountains,” he said. “I love to go up there and relax. I love to play Bridge. That’s probably my passion. I (used to) go to Concord and Albermarle to play Bridge.”

Charles Efird, a former pastor at Covenant Church, said Williams’ years of service to the community through his various postions are a testament to his passion for the community and his desire to continue to serve its people.

“He grew up in Harrisburg,” Efird said. “He’s definitely got a heart for it. I’m convinced he’s proved himself have served on the council for a number of years. I believe he would like to bring to fruition a number of things he’s started.”
-Johnathan E. Coleman

Harrisburg Town Council: Bob Scaggs- Republican

Bob Scaggs has traveled his share of miles — most of them between Ohio and North Carolina — to find himself finally settling down in Harrisburg.

Growing up, Scaggs, 42, would leave his hometown of Cleveland to make the trip to visit his grandparents, who lived in the North Carolina mountains.

He joined the Army in 1983 in hopes of making a home in North Carolina.

In 1984, Scaggs, was stationed at Fort Bragg, where he joined the ranks of the 82nd Airborne and spent most of the next nine years, including an 18-month stint in Korea, as a paratrooper, a helicopter mechanic, an operations sergeant and squad leader.

Not long after leaving the Army, a newly married Scaggs returned for a brief time to Cleveland, but was inevitably called back to North Carolina, where he settled outside of Raleigh and began working as a consultant.

“One of the companies I worked with was Wachoiva,” Scaggs said. “That’s what got me interested in banking.”

And his interest in banking is ultimately what landed him in Harrisburg, though, even then, he spent a lot of time on the road.

“We spent about nine months looking for the right place to live,” Scaggs recalled. “I was living in a hotel during the week and commuting back to Raleigh (on weekends).”

For the last seven years, Scaggs has engrained himself in the commuity, serving as a Cub Scout leader, volunteering at his children’s schools and remaining active at Providence Baptist Church.

Despite his many activities in the community, family and friends say Scaggs is dependable, and always willing to lend a hand.

Marie McLucas, a longtime friend of Scaggs and his wife, said the diverse scope of Scaggs’ activities gives him a good base from which to draw when making important decisions.

“He seems to be a well-rounded candidate,” she said. “I know he researches and get involved before he makes a decision.”

In his free time, Scaggs enjoys boating, and refers to himself as “the most avid sailor without a sailboat.”

Recently, his time on the water has been limited because of the low water levels.
“Boating has been a big hobby, but it’s been an especially tough year for that. You can’t get a boat in the water at Lake Norman now.”

Jonathan E. Coleman

Harrisburg Town Council- Rhonda Poppen- Republican

When Rhonda Poppen married her husband Bill nearly 20 years ago, she had no idea how many weddings were in her future.

After years in the marketing business, working in both printing and health care, Poppen, 43, decided to venture out on her own and turn a hobby that she has enjoyed since the early 1980s into a business.
From that decision sprung Expressive Editions Hand Calligraphy, which she launched in 1997.

In the 10 years since opening the business, Poppen has shared her talents at a wide range of events, from Bar Mitzvahs to corporate events. But her most popular clients are, by far, brides interested in hand-crafted invitations, place cards or other keepsakes for their special day. Poppen said she has had some part in nearly 410 weddings since the business began.

“It was a hobby-turned business at the suggestion of my mother-in-law,” she said. “We just celebrated our 10th anniversary. I guess it’s kind of suprised me that I’ve been able to maintain that the way businesses come and go.”
And while her business occupies a great deal of her time, it in no way defines her, Poppen said.

She’s also spent the better part of the last decade volunteering her time at Harrisburg Elementary School, where both of her children — 14-year-old Emily and 11-year-old Blake — attended, and also at her church.

“This is the first year since I’ve lived in Harrisburg that I haven’t had a child at Harrisburg Elementary School,” she said. “If you have nine years in the same school or 11 years in the same church, that’s a core part of your life.”
Poppen has continued her service to the schools, now as a band parent at Hickory Ridge High School.

Her dedication and work ethic are two of many reasons Andrea Batson, who volunteered with Poppen during her years at Harrisburg Elementary School, believes she will be a strong advocate if elected to the Harrisburg Town Council in November.
“I know she has a strong compassion for our community,” Batson said. “She would be an asset to our Town Council because she is a hard worker who inspires others to be the best and get the job done.”

Jonathan E. Coleman

Harrisburg Town Council: Kirk Angel- Independent

After finishing law school at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, all that stood between Angel and his then fiancee, Donna, was a law exam and a 525-mile road trip.

“I took the law exam on Wednesday/ Thursday, drove to Destin, Fla., on Friday and got married on Saturday,” he recalled.

Things haven’t slowed down much in the last 10 years.
These days, if Angel can’t be found at his law office in Harrisburg Town Center, he’s probably at the YMCA or some associated function.

Whether it’s coaching one of his son’s many sports teams or serving on the Board of Directors, Angel has committed much of his free time to the YMCA, earning the title “Kirk the Angel” from Cannon Memorial YMCA President and Cheif Executive Officer Ron Davis.

It started out innocently enough, Angel said.

“The YMCA is always in need of volunteers,” he said. “I got suckered into assistant coaching and the next thing you know I’m head coaching everything.”

At one point, Angel said, he was coaching multiple sports teams for his two sons, 8-year-old Brock and 4-year-old Cade.

“I’m about 18 months away from the girl (17-month-old Daegan) starting,” he joked. “I don’t know what we’re going to do then. We’re going to be all over the place.”

Even when he’s got a little time to himself, Angel often finds himself at the YMCA, where he enjoys lifting weights and working out.

“I’m a lawyer, so at the end of the day, I barely want to curl up with a comic book,” he said.

Angel’s life, outside of the office and away from the YMCA, includes teaching two nights a week at DeVry University in South Park, an activity he enjoys, but admits isn’t a career path he would choose for himself.

“I’ve got a flare for it,” Angel said of teaching. “I really enjoy doing it, but I could never be a professor as my sole livlihood. I’ve got to be more active than that.”

His giving nature and his willingness to stand up for what he believes in are part of what make him so unique, Davis said.

“He marches to the beat of a different drummer,” Davis said. “You won’t see him following the pack. He’ll go the way his heart is, even if it’s against the grain.”

-Jonathan E. Coleman

Harrisburg Town Council: Jeffrey Redfern- Republican

Growing up, Jeff Redfern was sure he would follow in his father’s footsteps.

He always thought he was headed for a job with the California Department of Fish and Game. Instead, Redfern made his home in North Carolina and found his calling as a detective for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

For the past 18 years, Redfern, 39, has worked for the CMPD, serving about the last 12 years in the Juvenile Offenders Unit. This has Redfern in and out of Charlotte, Mecklenburg schools, dealing with students and helping get young offenders back on the right track. The job is both frustrating and rewarding, but worthwhile when you’re able to really help get a kid straightened out, Redfern said.

“There are times when you’re able to get involved with a family, where your action with them shakes some sense into kids,” Redfern said. “(You) may not see it immediately, but then you get a phone call from parents appreciating the time you took to go out and speak to their children.”

When Redfern isn’t working, he tries to leave the job at home and focus his free time on coaching for the Harrisburg Youth Association. Redfern started coaching in the HYA when his son, Justin, 13, began playing in the league, Redfern’s daughter, Kallie, 9, also played in the league.

“It started off with my kids, but I also really enjoy coaching,” Redfern said. “(I like) working with kids and teaching. I think there’s a lot that can be learned through sports.”

While he started off coaching baseball, Redfern has also coached seasons as a football, soccer, basketball and softball coach throughout his eight years involved in the HYA.

Steve Sciascia and Redfern have been coaching and watching HYA sports off and on for the past seven years. The duo met when their kids were playing on the same team. Redferns concern for children on the team and his desire to help children improve their skills are what makes him a good coach, Sciascia said.

“He’s an easy going, laid back kind of guy,” Sciascia said. “He’s polite and very calm in his demeanor. He genuinely cares about people. He’s concerned about people and the issues that surround them.”

Redfern, who calls himself a simple “meat and potatoes,” type of guy, moved to North Carolina in 1985. Although he spent most of his childhood on the West Coast, Redfern considers North Carolina his home. He says the Southern feel of the area is well suited to his laid back personality.

He’s been in the Harrisburg area since 1992, and officially within the town’s limits for the last eight years. Cabarrus County’s school system and the small town feel of the community drew Redfern and his wife, Angela, to the area in the first place.

“It’s a very small town, it’s close to Charlotte it’s got small businesses and a (small town community),” Redfern said. “I consider it to have a fairly low crime rate. It has an overall sense of safety and overall family atmosphere.” -Christie Barlow

Harrisburg Town Council: Joe Hallatschek- Republican

Joe Hallatschek has been cycling, running and swimming all over the Southeast United States.
Hallatsheck, 47, competes with his triathlon team Girodana-Cliff-Bar throughout the U.S.

Hallatschek has always been interested in physical fitness and finished well in his first triathlon. From there, he was hooked. What started off as a dare in 1990, developed into one of Hallatschek's favorite things to do, he said.

“I love the lifestyle and the people you meet in the sport,” Hallatschek said. “Typically, they’re honest, hardworking people from all different walks of life.”

While some may find it daunting to be faced with a swim through six-foot waves, only to jump on a bike and ride for miles, it’s all part of the fun for Hallatschek. While he enjoys the challenge and discipline, the reward comes in finishing the race, he said.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of triathlons for Hallatschek is the friendly competition he’s developed with Kenny Daigle. Daigle and Hallatschek met while both were living in Olive Branch, Miss.

When competing in a triathlon the duo finished within places of each other and Hallatschek was shocked to hear they were from the same small town. When he returned home, Hallatschek contacted Daigle and they’ve been friends since, meeting up at least once a year to compete in triathlons.

“It’s a hobby for both of us,” Daigle said. “At the end of the day, the loser buys the beer.”

The focus Hallatschek has is one of his best qualities, Daigle said. Daigle calls his friend “a good-listener, patient and persistent.”

All these qualities together make Hallatschek good at everything he does from triathlons to his work as a civil engineer, Daigle said.

“Joe has the ability to look at a problem and he doesn’t bring any preconceived notions to the table,” Daigle said. “He’s very open-minded and willing to listen.”

While Hallatschek’s competitions have taken him across the U.S., he calls Harrisburg home.

About two years ago, Hallatschek, his wife of 25 years, Robin, and his two daughters, Sarah, 22, and Rebecca, 18, moved to Harrisburg, where Hallatschek took a job as a civil engineer with Mactec Federal Programs Inc.

“When it was time to retire, we decided with all the options we had, North Carolina would be best,” Hallatschek said. “It had all the things we were looking for. My wife was looking for Mayberry RFD (Rural Free Delivery), and I was looking for a job.”-Christie Barlow