The two candidates for mayor and four candidates running for two open seats on the board of commissioners all say they want to keep taxes where they are, but they have different ideas about how to manage the town's money.

"My initial gut feeling is leave the tax rate where it is and spend money more wisely," commission candidate Johnny Easters said. "If we can spend wisely and address areas of need, I would agree to the use of the money."

Easters said while the tax rate is one of the highest in the county, it's probably where it needs to be for now.

"The money needs to be there. I oppose any increase in the tax rate but we can stay where we are, if we spend wisely," Easters said. "I require justification for spending. It has to be more need than want."

Easters said he is looking over the budget to get up to date on expenditures, but knows he doesn't want to jeopardize any functions, like the police department, just to make cuts.

He added that he would like to look at ways to expand parks and recreation opportunities for families and maintain crime prevention and emergency services provided in Wendell.

"But we need to be very cautious in this economic period. We need to make sure the things we are going to do we have the resources for. I do not want to raise taxes," Easters said.

Commission candidate Tillie Turlington said she would not support a tax increase, but money might need to be moved around to better support the services provided to residents.

"Everyone maybe needs to re-evaluate and look at where we might cut and where we could add to things," Turlington said. "I don't know exactly the town's financial situation, but I'm all for using dollars wisely where they are needed."

Candidate for commissioner James Parham could not be reached for comment, but candidate Sam Laughery was happy with the services provided by taxpayers money in Wendell.

"The services provided in Wendell are excellent. They are not perfect, but no place is," Laughery said. "My thought on the tax rate is we need to broaden the tax base, that's the only way to keep (the tax rate) the same or lower it. And that goes back to being friendly and accommodating to developers. We need to be competitive with other towns."

Laughery said hiring the right person to put in charge of the town and lead the staff is important, and he has the background to make the right hire.

"I've hired literally hundreds of people. I know how to hire the right staff, it is a tremendous advantage I have over the others," Laughery said. "If you hire the right people, put the right team together it will keep the town efficient and providing the right services."

Mayoral candidate Tim Hinnant said since he hasn't served as an elected official in the past four years, he isn't familiar enough with the current operation of the town to pick areas that need addressing, but as a resident, he is happy with the services provided.

"But not being on board, I can't assess fairly where we need to be," Hinnant said. "If I'm elected, part of the mayor's job certainly is to evaluate town operations with the town manager, the department heads and the town board. We all work as one unit."

Mayor Harold Broadwell agreed that the quality of services residents get for their tax money is good. "Wendell receives a pretty good level of service compared to what other towns provide."

But Broadwell said the town doesn't always use its money in the most useful way.

"Sometimes the board is penny-pinching wise and pound foolish," Broadwell said. "They have not always used our resources as well as they could have."

Broadwell would like to see the board move forward with projects like expanding town parks, repairing and improving streets and adding sidewalks where they are needed.