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Some High Point leaders, including Mayor Becky Smothers, are trying to drum up a challenger to County Commissioner Steve Arnold this year.

Arnold's business troubles have gotten a lot of attention recently.

But the veteran politician may turn the tables on Smothers.

"I have considered the possibility of running for mayor," Arnold told me this afternoon. "High Point is in desperate need of leadership, and has been for years."

"That's interesting," Smothers reacted when I passed that tidbit on to her.

"Interesting" is an uncharacteristic understatement for the normally outspoken mayor.

A mayor's race between Smothers and Arnold would be a humdinger.

They're only, arguably, the two most formidable and popular elected officials in High Point over the past quarter-century.

Arnold, a Republican, was elected to the High Point City Council in 1985 and 1987, to the N.C. House of Representatives in 1988, and to the Board of Commissioners in 1990 and every four years since. He won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor in 1996 but lost the general election to Dennis Wicker, his only defeat in 25 years.

Smothers, a Democrat, was first elected to the City Council in 1977 and has served six terms as mayor going back to 1992. She's also been a leader in many regional initiatives.

She said she hasn't decided whether to seek another term this year. Nor has Arnold announced whether he'll seek another term on the board of commissioners, jump back to municipal politics or retire from public office. I have no clue about what he'll do.

City Councilman Latimer Alexander, a Republican, is one High Point leader who's ready to see Arnold replaced on the county board. Some city leaders think Arnold has done little in that office to benefit High Point.

"I think it's time for a change, and I think the voters will have a choice, both on the Republican side, and I think the Democrats will put someone up as well," Alexander said.

Councilman Bill Bencini, also a Republican, added: "Anybody who's been in an elected office 20 years, you can make the argument it's time to move on. Whether or not it's going to happen, I don't know." But Bencini acknowledged that he's thinking of running for Arnold's seat.

One thing for sure: If Arnold "moves on" to a campaign for mayor, or if he faces a credible challenge for re-election, it's going to be a lively year for politics in High Point.