ETON — Judy Bostic has lived in Eton all her life and served as a city council member here for more than three decades. She believes letting the municipality grow while keeping its small-town feel is the key to its future.

Bostic is running for mayor of Eton after serving “35 or 36 years” on the council, she said. Her opponents in the July 15 special election are Jimmy Bartley and former councilman Billy Cantrell. The position of Eton mayor pays $5,200 a year.

Bostic also has kept one “daytime” job longer than most, working 32 years with Extruded Fibers in Dalton.

“I’ve never had any opposition,” she said of keeping her Post 3 seat. “I’ve also been mayor pro tem for many years, but resigned after the June meeting to run for mayor.”

Bostic says growth in the north Murray burg needs to be watched.

“I’m all for growth including industry,” she said, “but I’m concerned more about a controlled-type growth. We need business, but we also need to look at zoning and keep our town appearance something we’d be proud of.

“We have a zoning board that is very efficient, and we’re trying to work with the companies coming in and making sure our association with them is fair like it would be for anyone else, as long as it is for the betterment of Eton.”

Bostic said one thing she hears from local residents is that they would like to have a grocery store.

“They all say the same thing,” she said, “that ‘we have a pharmacy and gas stations, why not a grocery store?’ But none of us want Eton to lose that small-town, neighbor-friendly feel that we’ve had for years.”

Bostic said as mayor she would like to see more people-friendly events like the Eton Country Fair in the fall, Pickin’ in the Pavilion during warmer weather and the Christmas light display at the old Eton Elementary School campus that was so popular last year with children and adults alike.