There was a clear shift toward controlling growth in Holly Springs, where town officials promote a go-go attitude toward development. Voters tossed out incumbent Town Council member Peter Atwell and a challenger running in tandem with him, Laurie Clowers. They backed Parrish "Ham" Womble, a veteran incumbent who was sharply criticized for asking what legal steps it would take to put a one-year moratorium on new development, and Tim Sack, a former member of the council who favors planned development.

But in Rolesville, voters picked C. Frank Eagles to be mayor. As mayor pro tem for six years, Eagles, along with most of the board of commissioners, has eagerly embraced growth for the northern Wake town.

And Wendell, where first-time candidate and relative newcomer J. Harold Broadwell won, went against the grain of an election that returned most incumbent mayors to office in the other nine Wake County towns where voters cast ballots today.

In Morrisville, three incumbents — Pete Martin at-large, Linda Lyons in District 1 and Liz Johnson in District 3 — were re-elected to the Board of Commissioners. Newcomer Mark Stohlman was elected unopposed in District 2.

In Garner, Alderman Phil Matthews was in danger of losing his seat. Ken Marshburn had 28 percent of the vote in incomplete returns; incumbent Buck Kennedy had 26 percent; and incumbent Jackie Johns Sr. had 24 percent. Mayor Ronnie Williams, who ran unopposed, had 96 percent.

In Fuquay-Varina, Charlie Adcock was ahead in a race for three seats on the town's board. Adcock had 34 percent of the vote; Jimmy Johnson 25 percent; and incumbent Jeff Wells 22 percent. Mayor John Byrne, who ran unopposed, had 96 percent of the vote.

Turnout in Apex was predictably low, with all three candidates unopposed. Mayor Keith Weatherly had 642 votes against 50 write-ins with 16 of 17 precincts reporting. Council member Bryan Gossage had 589 votes and council member Bill Jensen 599, with a total of 43 write-ins.

In Zebulon, incumbents held on to their seats. R. Dale Beck, Don R. Bumgarner and Curtis P. Strickland each had about 27 percent of the vote. Challenger Joe Scaruzzo had about 18 percent.

In Wendell, Broadwell had 68 percent of the mayoral vote in incomplete returns. Charlie "Buddy" Scarboro Jr. had 31 percent.

The leading candidates in the race for two at-large commissioner seats were Sid Baynes and Carol Hinnant. Baynes had 528 votes and Hinnant 484.

In Wake Forest, with 98 percent of the county precincts reporting, town planning board members Chris Kaeberlein and Pete Thibodeau have both claimed more than 20 percent of the vote in the Board of Commissioners race.

"I think what the voters want to see is some common sense in how and how many developments are approved in Wake Forest," Kaeberlein said.

Kaeberlein had 20.85 percent of the vote, or 1,009 votes. Thibodeau had 19.69 percent with 953 votes. In third place, Anne Hines had 13.21 percent with 639 votes.

In the Rolesville commissioner race, with 78 percent of the county precincts reporting, Gil Hartis and Shannon G. Whitley have both collected more than 30 percent of the votes. Hartis had 37.8 percent with 118 votes. Whitley had 34.29 percent with 107 votes. Bill Carter received 25.96 percent with 81 votes.

In Knightdale, incumbent council member Tim Poirier and Wake Tech official James Roberson took the two open council seats, each with about a quarter of the vote.

Poirier and outgoing council member Russell Killen, who ran unopposed for mayor, have favored a course of action Poirier referred to today as "quality growth."

The composition of the council and its approach to rampaging growth in Knightdale were at stake as six candidates vied for the two open council seats.

Lois Candidates Burch and Charles Bullock won endorsements from the grassroots group Knightdale Citizens Against Residential Encroachment, or CARE, which has opposed the placement of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Knightdale.

The current council, including Killen and re-election candidate Tim Poirier, voted to allow the business in 2006, but CARE has delayed the project through litigation.

"Everyone understands that growth is coming, and we are committed to managing it in a meaningful way," Killen said before the election.

Roberson, dean of Wake Tech's Western Wake campus, has been active in Democratic politics and as a volunteer in varied fields.