Thursday, October 1, 2026
®
The World's Local News Source®
Cherryville, NC (WNN)- Wade Stroupe is seeking to run for Mayor of Cherryville once again. After more than two decades since he last held the position, he's running unopposed in the Nov. 4 election.
David Whitesides initially filed to run for mayor but withdrew days later, leaving Stroupe as the only candidate on the ballot. Write-in votes are still possible, but no public campaigning has been conducted for a write-in candidate. Stroupe previously ran for a third term as mayor in 2003 but lost to Bob Austell, who went on to serve multiple terms.
Stroupe sat down for an interview with WNN's Rusty Wise in the Wise News Network Studios, where numerous topics were discussed.
Having served as mayor from 1999 to 2003, Stroupe says his decision to run again comes from a desire to give back to the community now that he's in semi-retirement after a long career in transportation and logistics.
"It wasn't really until about a year or two ago that I started thinking about this. After I made the transition to semi-retirement, I felt this was the right time to get involved and give back," Stroupe said.
Wade Stroupe's graduation photo from the 1982 Chenoca Yearbook
1982 Chenoca Yearbook
Stroupe is a Cherryville native, graduating from Cherryville High School in 1982. He then earned a degree in business and economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before returning home. Most of his career was spent in transportation, where he held positions at Carolina Freight Corp and Atlas Van Lines, serving as general manager for about 15 to 16 years.
Currently, Stroupe is a licensed real estate broker with Vickie Spurling Real Estate and does contract sales work with moving companies.
In addition to his previous mayoral service, Stroupe has been actively involved in many community organizations. He has served on the Cherryville Planning and Zoning Board and the Gaston County Economic Development Commission. He was the president of the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce and has been a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church.
The exterior sign of the Cherryville Little Theatre - October 17th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Stroupe plays an active role in Cherryville Little Theatre Inc. and the Cherryville High School Education Foundation. He has also achieved the Eagle Scout rank with the Boy Scouts of America.
Stroupe laid out three key priorities he plans to focus on if he wins the election: enhancing customer service, planning strategically, and improving the quality of life.
"Customer service obviously means the city serving its customers, and primarily the customers are the citizens of Cherryville," Stroupe said. "Just treating those customers with fairness, with dignity, with empathy, understanding what position they're in. I think we can do a better job of that."
He pointed out that his platform doesn't criticize the city's current actions but rather advocates steady improvements in every department.
"I'm not really specifically saying that the city is doing anything wrong. Certainly, everybody can improve. I can improve on things that I do," he said. "I'm not pointing my fingers at anybody in elected office or anybody in the administration or any of the employees on the streets doing the jobs. I just think we can have better customer service."
The Cherryville Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Cherryville. October 17th,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
He mentioned that customer service isn't just about the people who can vote in the city. It also includes those living in areas under city policies who can't vote and city employees who need the right tools and training to do their jobs well.
Roads, streets, and sidewalks are the top issues Stroupe has heard from residents during his campaign, followed by electric bills, city beautification, and recycling services. Stroupe acknowledged that the city cannot repair every road overnight, but advocated for comprehensive, long-term planning spanning 5 to 20 years across all city departments and services.
Vivian Street in Cherryville, NC with large potholes surrounding its sewer access - October 17th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
"I would much rather see us be primarily a proactive city to have a plan so that every citizen knows that maybe not this year, but two years from now, my streets are going to get repaved," he said.
He also called for stronger enforcement of road repair requirements when contractors cut into city streets, saying current agreements may lack sufficient written requirements for proper restoration.
A pedestrian plan from 2009 has not been fully implemented. Many seem frustrated that taxpayers' money has been invested in a detailed study, but not much has been done since. There have also been concerns about walkability between Food Lion and Walmart along Highway 150, where pedestrians have to navigate roadways without sidewalks.
An aerial photo showing Highway 150 leading to the Food Lion in Cherryville NC - October 17th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
"We're dodging people with buggies on Highway 150 because they have no sidewalks," adding that "the new apartments on Academy Street don't really have good walkways for pedestrians". WNN's Rusty Wise said during the interview.
One suggestion was that Cherryville could benefit from connecting to the regional trail systems being created in nearby towns, such as Shelby, Gastonia, and Lincolnton.
Discussing the city’s $3.8 million budget surplus, Stroupe said he supports maintaining a solid reserve and utilizing excess funds to enhance infrastructure.
"I'm not on the side of sitting there and hoarding or keeping holding on to those numbers as much as possible, but certainly maintaining a healthy balance, but then using the dollars that are there for the things we've talked about," he said.
His platform focuses on new ways to manage budgets and keeping a close watch on finances. It aims to build ties with county, regional, and state agencies to support future growth plans.
The new city gym, the Post 100 baseball field turf project, and recreation were also mentioned during the interview. More input into the recreation decisions and a possible study into the actual economic impact of recreational events in Cherryville were discussed, as were current procurement bidding procedures.
Stroupe promises to hold regular town halls where residents can share their views and ideas. His campaign materials emphasize the importance of open discussions, prompt responses, and clear answers to questions. He is committed to being transparent and ensuring trustworthy communication.
The City of Cherryville's decision to end video recording and broadcasting of council meetings has been frequently criticized. Despite the claimed cost savings of approximately $300 per month, some have called it a mistake.
"I personally was very upset when the city chose not to video and broadcast their own meetings," Stroupe said. It was noted that while Wise News Network currently records the meetings, the organization cannot guarantee consistent coverage of the meetings. It has been suggested that the city council should broadcast all meetings, including work sessions, on platforms such as Facebook or YouTube to ensure transparency.
The topic of making all agenda materials and supporting documents easily accessible to the public was then raised. It was mentioned that citizens who attend the meetings often see short agenda items without the full context, which is given to the city council members. Video screens in the city council room were also discussed, and Stroupe favored installing them.
In Stroupe's campaign materials, he promises to share information across all media to keep citizens informed about the city's events and actions. He notes that "clear and honest communication is crucial for Cherryville's future."
Stroupe's platform includes several other promises:
In his campaign statement, Stroupe wrote: "Given my love for this city, as well as my deep concern and hope for its future, I will do everything I can to protect and promote the incredible quality of life we have always enjoyed in Cherryville."
During the interview, Stroupe stated, "It's never been about me and what I want to do, or my candidacy for mayor, or thinking that I'm the only one who can do something for the city. "It's about who could do the best job for the city and who's willing to do that job for the city."
Early voting began Oct. 16 at the Gaston County Board of Elections office. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
Stroupe can be contacted at WadeStroupeForMayor@gmail.com, by phone at 704-473-3544, or through his Facebook page. His mailing address is PO Box 51, Cherryville, NC 28021.
For further WNN articles and news stories, visit https://wisenewsnetwork.com
For more WNN video news stories, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork
Contact WNN at newsdesk@wisenewsnetwork.com
North Carolina Press Association Member
©️Copyright 2025 Wise News Network. All rights reserved.
