The two mayoral candidates for Morrisville are trying to drum up support at the last minute.

Incumbent Jan Faulkner and challenger Jackie Holcombe say they know in an off-season election, every vote counts that much more.

Both have fiscal responsibility as the lynchpin of their campaigns -- but they're coming from completely different angles.

"I have never voted for a tax increase," Faulkner said. "As a matter of fact, the tax rate has continued to go down since I was first elected in 1997."

Faulkner said voters need look no further than her record.

Holcombe, though, contended she's part of the reason for that trend after last year's budget plan originally included a 19-percent property tax hike.

"It was a well-organized grass-roots effort that I helped lead that kept that from happening," Holcombe said. "Fortunately at the last minute, the council did vote to deny that budget."

"I have never voted for a tax increase; that's what people need to remember," Faulkner said. "We considered all kinds of options."

Holcombe said she's already thinking of ways to help deal with roads, which have been a major concern for a while.

She thinks there's a way to get federal stimulus money to help stretch the tax dollars of Morrisville residents.

"We need a cost-sharing plan," Holcombe said. "The state's not in a position to do it. Morrisville's not in a position to do it by ourselves."

Faulkner said Holcombe simply doesn't have the necessary experience to navigate Morrisville through a down economy.

Both of them acknowledge the race will hinge on who can motivate voters to the polls without the help of any national races.

"Emailing friends, calling friends, knocking on doors," Holcombe said.

"It's very tough and as we saw in Cary a month or so ago," Faulkner added, "it comes down to two or three votes."

With less than a week left, there's a lot of work to do.

Early voting is already underway for all races, while Election Day is Nov. 3.

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