July 10. UPDATED 12:15 pm. It’s official: Both incumbent Jill Swain  and John Aneralla have filed with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections to run for mayor of Huntersville. Swain, who filed Thursday, may be tough to beat.

Swain is in her fourth term as mayor. She served four previous terms on the Huntersville Town Board.

During this time Huntersville has grown from 5,000 to 50,000 residents. Huntersville has also been recognized as one of the best places in America to relocate.

Investment advisor Aneralla has raised over $25,000 in campaign contributions and pledges since announcing his candidacy a month ago. Swain said she has not raised any money.

“I am proud that we have announced two corporate entities choosing Huntersville as their headquarters this year and two corporate expansions. I have not raised one cent,” Swain declared.

Aneralla is the founder of Bulldog Asset Management Inc., an investment advisory firm. Aneralla, his wife Nancy and their children have lived in Huntersville since 1997.

“I feel like I’m the underdog, but I will run a grass roots campaign,” Aneralla said.

Aneralla is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System.

He said his top priority as mayor will be “establishing a vision and a plan for the Town of Huntersville that enhances the quality of life in our community” and creating a unique identity for the town.

Aneralla was one of the first local political leaders—he is the former former chairman of the Mecklenburg County Republican Party—to come out against the I-77 toll plan.