As a Triangle native, Lydia Martin has seen Morrisville and its neighbors grow. After living in Morrisville for nine years, a combination of factors led her to seek election to the Town Council: getting older, getting married last year and opening a small business — Stop Sign Graphics — in her town.

“I have a fresh set of eyes and a fresh perspective; I think it’s good for any group to bring in new people,” she said.

Martin, who also works as an information technology manager at Consonus, said her management experience as well as outsider status will be a plus for the town.

Martin is in favor of sustainable growth. While she knows that industry keeps the town’s taxes low, she hopes to see lots of small businesses populate Morrisville, too.

“Morrisville is a small town in the middle of lots of big towns, and I would like to see it retain its small town charm,” she said.

At the same time, she thinks the town could better manage side effects of growth, such as traffic congestion. Road improvements are one of Martin’s main focuses.

“Morrisville is so small that it shouldn’t take 20 minutes to get to the other side,” she said. “Traffic problems affect our quality of life.”

Martin also thinks there are ways to improve the town’s recreational offerings.

“One of the things I like about Morrisville is that the town sponsors a lot of community events,” she said. “Parks and Recreation offers a lot for youth and seniors, but ... it needs more for adults who haven’t yet reached retirement.”