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7,215 Vote Early in Watauga, App State One-Stop Site the Busiest, Primary is Tuesday

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March 14, 2016. Even with college students on Spring Break for the majority of the early-voting period for the 2016 primary, the one-stop site on the campus of Appalachian State University was the busiest. Early voting ended on Saturday. Of the 7,215 people who voted early in Watauga County, 3,250 of those voted in the Plemmons Student Union on the campus of Appalachian State University. Here is the breakdown for all of the early voting sites in Watauga. By Jesse Wood

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Brantz Thumps Opponent To Be Boone’s Next Mayor, Clawson & Mason Re-Elected

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Current Mayor Pro-Tem Rennie Brantz will be the new mayor, according to unofficial results in the 2015 municipal elections held on Tuesday, and Councilwomen Loretta Clawson and Lynne Mason retained their seats. Brantz, who has served on the Boone Town Council for about 10 years and is a professor of history at Appalachian State University, thumped his conservative opponent, Ryan Hollingsworth. By Jesse Wood

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Newland Residents Vote To Keep Buying Beer, Wine; Anti-Alcohol Campaigner Arrested

Beer and wine are here to stay in Newland restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and other establishments. Although the sale of beer and wine was initially approved in the 2009 election, citizen Steve Nelson persuaded the Newland Town Council to place an alcohol referendum on the ballot in the hopes that voters would ban the sale of wine and beer. By Jesse Wood

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Unofficial Results for 2015 Municipal Elections in Watauga and Avery Counties

The unofficial results for the 2015 municipal elections in Watauga and Avery counties are in.

Losing Incumbents: Cindy Keller (Beech Mountain Town Council); Dan Phillips (Blowing Rock Town Council); Dale Henson (Crossnore Alderman); Susie Potter (Newland Town Council)

Newland’s referendum on the sale of alcohol: 72 percent of voters approved the sale of wine and beer in Newland town limits. This compares to 54 percent that favored alcohol sales when it first appeared on the ballot in 2006. For more background on this controversial issue, click

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Nearly 17,000 Registered Voters in Boone, Small Percentage Voting in Election So Far

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Boone has nearly 17,000 registered voters (those active and in-active for last two general elections). During early voting, 544 Boone citizens voted for the municipal elections. During the first hour of early voting, only a handful made it to the polls between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. “It’s been pretty quiet,” Watauga County Elections Director Matthew Snyder said earlier this morning. By Jesse Wood

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Candidate Statements for Boone Elections

Instead of framing the response and sending all of the candidates a list of questions, High Country Press let the candidates set the tone by asking for a statement on whatever the candidates wanted voters to know. Here are their responses. Compiled by Jesse Wood

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Outgoing Councilman Quint David Questions Boone Candidates on Sustainability Issues

Outgoing Boone Town Councilman Quint David, who decided not to run for re-election this cycle, said he was concerned about the lack of questions, and subsequently discussions, regarding sustainability at recent candidate forums. So he took the matter into his own hands and asked several questions of mayoral and council candidates in the Boone municipal election. Posted by Jesse Wood

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More Than 100 Vote on First Day of Early Voting in Watauga & Avery Counties

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Nearly 70 people have voted through 4 p.m. on the first day of early voting in the 2015 municipal elections, according to Watauga County Board of Elections Director Matt Snyder. “It’s not a huge number, but we’re getting there,” Snyder said. Snyder said that most of the voters are from Boone with a handful from Blowing Rock and a couple from Beech Mountain. By Jesse Wood

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Early Voting Begins on Thursday Morning

Early voting for the 2015 municipal elections begins on Thursday at 8 a.m. While Election Day takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, registered voters may cast their ballots through Saturday, Oct. 31. By Jesse Wood

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Listen to Candidates for Boone Town Council, Mayor Speak at Boone Chamber Forum


All of the candidates in 2015 municipal elections for the Town of Boone pitched their candidacy and spoke on some of the issues facing the town on Monday evening. The Boone Chamber of Commerce sponsored the forum, which included questions related to the town’s water-intake project, relations between the town and Watauga County, affordable housing and more. By Jesse Wood

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See 2015 Sample Ballots for Avery Municipalities, Contested Races, Beer/Wine

Inside are the sample ballots for all the municipalities in Avery County for the 2015 elections. Unlike the other municipalities which only feature candidates on the ballot, Newland is unique this election cycle because of the referendum on beer and wine wine sales, a controversial topic that has divided Christians. Newland residents barely approved the sell of beer and wine in restaurants and stores in 2009. Now it’s back on the ballot. By Jesse Wood

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BRCA Releases Video of Entire Candidate Forum for the Elections in Blowing Rock


The Blowing Rock Civic Association has released video of the group’s candidate forum for the 2015 municipal elections that was held last week at the American Legion Building in downtown Blowing Rock. All of the candidates – incumbent Mayor J.B. Lawrence, mayoral challenger Charlie Sellers, owner of The Blowing Rock attraction, incumbent Councilmen Dan Phillips and Al Yount and challenger and former Councilman Jim Steele – attended. By Jesse Wood

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