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Candidate List Finalized; Expect Interesting Primary Because of Competitive Races, Marriage Amendment and the Lack of a GOP Presidential Front Runner

2012 Election graphic

It’s official. The candidate filing period for state and county races ended today, and the Watauga Board of Elections released their Candidate Detail List. Normally primaries are slower than the general election, but some expect May’s primary to perhaps be more interesting than in the past.

“The [Marriage Protection] Amendment, I think, would be the main [reason for added interest], and, of course, right now we are wondering about the presidential preference,” Jane Hodges, director of Watauga Board of Elections, said. “North Carolina could come down to being one of the key states in the republican presidential primary.”

 The Marriage Protection Amendment, which is designed to restrict same-sex marriage, will be on the ballot in May’s primary. That along with the fact that there isn’t a consistent republican presidential front runner and with local races being highly competitive, the upcoming elections should be enticing for political junkies.

Look below for important election dates and to see who has filed with the Watauga Board of Elections.

Watauga County Commissioners

Six candidates vie for three Watauga County Commissioner seats, which will be decided during the general election in November.

District 1: Virginia Roseman DEM vs. Tim Wilson REP

District 2: Vince Gable (I) REP vs. John Welch DEM

District 3: Billy Kennedy DEM vs. Tommy Adams REP

Watauga County Board of Education

Seats on the Watauga County Board of Education are coveted with seven candidates running for six spots. The field will be narrowed to six during the primary elections in May and will be whittled further during the general election in November to three candidates, each of whom will earn a seat on the school board. Incumbents Deborah Miller, Steve Combs and John Welch, a candidate for Watauga County Commissioner, chose not to run for re-election.

Deborah B. Green

Jay Fenwick

Barbara Kinsey

Ron Henries

Fred C. Oliver

Brandon K. Petrea

Brenda Reese

N.C. State Senate District 45 and N.C. House of Representatives District 093

Dan Soucek (R) of Boone is running for N.C. Senate District 45, and Cullie Tarleton (D) of Blowing Rock is running for N.C. House of Representatives District 093.

Register of Deeds

JoAnn Townsend is running uncontested for Watauga County Register of Deeds.

Important Dates for Primary:

Absentee Ballots – March 19

Party Affiliation Change Deadline – April 13

Voter Registration Deadline – April 13

One-Stop Voting – May 1 to May 5

Election – May 8 

For more dates regarding primary and general election click to N.C. State Board of Elections website at http://www.ncsbe.gov/content.aspx?id=61.