FAIRMONT — The recession may be loosening its grip, but in Fairmont, the economy still tops the list of concerns.

The candidates for municipal office may have different ideas, but all seem to believe that there is a need to attract more businesses and new jobs.

On Tuesday, voters will elect a mayor from two candidates, and three commissioners from a field of five. All are four-year terms. Incumbent Commissioner Jay Capps is not running for re-election.

Mayor Charles Kemp is seeking re-election against John R. “Ronnie” Jackson, a former commissioner. Incumbents Bobby Charles Townsend and Wayland B. Lennon III are being challenged by Perry Tatum Ashley, Terry Evans and James “Rusty” Perry. Perry could not be reached for this story.

Kemp, 63, is seeking a second term as mayor. He was a teacher for 40 years — 30 at Fairmont High School — before retiring in June. He was a commissioner for 28 years before becoming mayor in 2005.

“In this economy, it’s employment and that’s why I’ve held 12 job fairs — with the Employment Security Commission, and two private companies — trying to find a climate where people can find a job. We’ve got to get people to work,” Kemp said. “All the cosmetic things are wonderful — new streets, buildings, lights — but that doesn’t replace the opportunity for someone getting a job and making a real wage.”

He pointed to some recent successes, including bringing the Hagar company and Advance Recovery to town.

“Everything I’ve done in my life ... has prepared me to be mayor of this town,” he said. “I love this job. I’ve thrown my whole soul into it. And because of that, I think the results are visible.”

Jackson, 66, served on the town board from 2003 to 2007 before losing his re-election bid.

Jackson was employed by the town in various positions for more than 25 years, including a stint as firefighter, fire chief, acting town manager, code enforcement officer and rehabilitation specialist. He retired in 1999.

Jackson said he would bring to the mayor’s job “a strong knowledge of town codes and ordinances, zoning administration, subdivision regulations, housing rehabilitation, grant writing skills and the ability to listen and get along with all races of people.”

Jackson said, after several years of building up a healthy fund balance in the town budget, the current administration has chipped away at it, the challenger said.

Jackson also complained of the current board’s failure to extend sewer service to the neighboring East Side Park community. Jackson said grant money could have been used to extend the sewer lines, creating a new and needed revenue stream for the town.

“Look at the experience that I’ve got — 25 years working for the town,” Jackson said.

The candidates competing for a seat on the town board include:

— Wayland B. Lennon III, 48, is a relationship executive in the software industry who is seeking his second term on the board.

“I really believe the town board has been able to bring positive changes to the town of Fairmont,” he said, adding more work needs to be done.

“One of the things I believe we still have before us is continuing to enhance the business climate, and trying to bring more jobs here, and trying to make the budget situation even better,” Lennon said.

He also said more attention is needed on youths.

“We should look at how we impact our children and their future ... we just seem to be having so many challenges — not just here but in the state and the country. We need them (children) to learn and not to have babies and to make a future for themselves.

“We need to work together to make those things become a reality.”

— Bobby Charles Townsend, 51, is seeking his third term on the town board. He is an insurance agent.

Townsend said there isn’t one issue dominating the town, but he said the board needs experienced leaders willing to deal with tough matters when they come up.

Townsend was one of three commissioners who fought for sewer to East Side Park at a reasonable rate.

“I would hope that one day those people would be able to live in an environment where they’d have sewer and not have septic tanks running over,” Townsend said.

Townsend had complained strongly about what he saw as the unfairness of charging East Side Park property owners double what town residents pay for the same sewer service.

“I appreciate the voters being supportive over the years, and look for their continued support, advice and input,” he said.

— Perry Tatum Ashley, 38, is making her first bid for public office.

“I want to serve the Fairmont community and support continued positive growth for Fairmont,” she said.

Ashley, a physical therapist, said the No. 1 issue facing the town is “promoting more economic growth and striving to create new jobs for the town, and to seek innovative ways to do that, we have to think outside the box.”

Another issue Ashley would like to address is high utility costs, particularly the rate residents are charged for sewer service.

“If fiscally possible, I’d like to try to decrease the sanitary sewer costs. That’s a concern for the residents here in Fairmont,” she said.

— Terry Evans, 45, works in management for Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel. He ran unsuccessfully for a commissioner’s seat once, and twice for mayor.

“I want Fairmont to heal from the financial wounds that have been created the last three years by the ruling board,” he said.

Evans said the biggest issue facing town leaders is attracting more people to make Fairmont their hometown. It is important to “attract new residents to (help) pay off the water and sewer plant — a $7 million operation,” he said.

One way to help pay off that debt, Evans said, is to revisit the plan to extend sewer to East Side Park.

Evans favors extending the sewer to that neighborhood but said “I didn’t like that double rate.”

He also spoke of the town’s finances.

“The public doesn’t know, but I look at the meeting minutes, and we’re in financial trouble,’’ he said. “ ... You need someone in office to help ease these troubles. We got out of debt in 2003 and now we’re back in debt again.”