Vote on November 5.

The  whirring of the presidential and congressional election machines often obscure  elections on the local level. On Tuesday, Nov. 5 two Botetourt County towns will have  choices for councils and a mayor, while a third decides on liquor by the drink.

In Fincastle the line up is as such: five candidates and a write -in compete for three town council seats. One of the candidates Mason Peay  has with drawn his name, but is still on the ballott. Others are Phoebe Cress, Robert Jones, Mary Beth Landenheim, Mary Bess Smith and Pam Weigandt is a write in.

In Troutville three council seats are up for grabs. Candidates are Christopher Boothe, Brandine Vassar and Henry Cook, Jr. as well as Sally Rauscher who announced earlier this fall she can not serve if elected. Mayor has one candidate the incumbent William “Bill” Rader.

The largest town in the county,  Buchanan, has town voters  getting a choice to make  liquor by the drink a part of the scenery.  A “yes” vote raises  hope that more restaurants and encouragement for new business will both locate in the town. Hard hit by the recession, numerous small businesses have closed doors in the past  four years.

The presidential election ballot features  Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan ticket  for Republican Party  and Democratic Party Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Other party candidates include  Constitutional Party Candidate Virgil Goode, Jim Clymer; Libertarian Party, Gary Johnson and James P. Gray; Green Party Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala.

In congressional races US Senate: Republican George Allen; Democrat, Tim Kaine.  6th congressional District Republican Bob Goodlatte, Democrat Andy Schmookler.

Two state constitutional amendments are also on the ballot. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. For more election info click here.