The hotly contested mayor’s race in Mount Airy took another twist Thursday when a candidate eliminated from contention in Tuesday’s primary announced that he would support former opponent Deborah Cochran.

“I’m going to back Deborah,” said Gene Clark, who finished third in the voting among four candidates in the primary. Cochran, presently the city’s at-large commissioner, was second and will face Teresa Lewis in the Nov. 3 general election.

The fourth-place finisher was Paul Eich, who said after the primary results were in Tuesday night that he also will be supporting Cochran to become the city’s next mayor when Jack Loftis steps down later this year.

Though Lewis dominated the primary by capturing nearly 45 percent of the votes cast, the percentages represented by those received by Cochran, Clark and Eich total 55.23 percent. In terms of actual votes, those candidates altogether received 730 compared to 592 for Lewis.

Clark, who on Tuesday night had declined to indicate publicly who he would endorse for the general election, said Thursday that several factors influenced his decision to throw his support Cochran’s way.

One involves his belief that she would be “much more hawkish” on making sure budget and other issues are handled in the best interests of the public.

During their primary campaigning, both Clark and Eich leveled frequent criticism toward various city officials and decisions made in recent years concerning annexation and other matters and said Mount Airy needs a revamping of leadership.

Lewis, on the other hand, has declined to attack present or former officials and their decisions, instead saying she wants to focus on the positive and look toward the future.

“I don’t agree with her when she says that our management has got everything under control at City Hall,” Clark said, specifically citing statements by Lewis to that effect at a Sept. 29 candidates forum. “That was obvious at the (forum),” said Clark, who added that if Lewis is elected, “I think it will be business as usual at City Hall.”

Clark also thinks that Cochran “definitely” mirrors his position against an airport-expansion proposal, as well as fiscal matters in general. “Obviously, Deborah’s not going to be spending money willy-nilly,” he said of an office-holder who frequently has fought against property tax and utility hikes and advocated budgetary restraint.

The third-place candidate added that he hopes those who cast ballots for him Tuesday will consider voting for Cochran next month. “I would hope that they would share my support for Deborah in the November election.”

As for actively campaigning for Cochran, Clark said, “I’ll be active as much as she wants me to.”

Cochran, Lewis Respond

Cochran said she appreciates the backing received from Clark and Eich. “I’m humbled by the support from both guys,” the candidate added while campaigning Thursday night from “one apartment complex to the other.”

The candidate finds herself in familiar territory in trying to rebound from a primary runner-up position to take all the marbles in the general election.

When she was elected to her at-large commissioner’s post in 2007, Cochran lost to Scott Lowry in a primary that also included Twyla Sickmiller. Cochran later defeated Lowry in the general election.

“There are definitely some similarities,” Cochran said of her 2007 and 2009 campaigns.

Lewis said Thursday that the positions now being taken by Eich and Clark won’t prompt any change in tactics on her part. “It has no effect on my campaign strategy,” the primary’s top vote-getter said.

“My comment on Mr. Eich endorsing Deborah is that he never had any conversation with me one way or the other,” she said.

“As far as Gene Clark,” Lewis added, she says that he called her Tuesday night saying he would support her bid for mayor. “So I’m surprised that he has changed his mind, but that’s his right to do so,” she said.

“I would just say that the Lewis campaign is going to continue to go forward and continue to be positive.”

Clark said later Thursday night he had indeed called Lewis Tuesday night to congratulate her and offer his help in the future, but that he stopped short of actually giving his endorsement. He added that he remained undecided about which of the two front-runners to endorse until Thursday afternoon.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.