‘Meet the Candidates’ Meet-and-Greet, Forum Held in Avery County March 1 in Newland

By Jesse Wood

A “Meet the Candidates” forum for Avery County candidates in the 2016 primary will take place on Tuesday, March 1 at the Avery Middle School cafeteria in Newland from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

With Avery County being overwhelmingly conservative, the Republican primary usually serves as the general election – at least for local races such as the Avery County Board of Commissioners, where this election cycle all seven candidates are in the GOP.

The forum is hosted by Avery County Chamber of Commerce, The Avery Journal-Times, Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Newland Business Association, Williams YMCA of Avery County and Avery County Schools.

“Candidates running for offices in our county and district for the upcoming March primary election, as well as any unopposed primary candidates who are facing opposition in the November general election, are invited to join us for an evening of conversation and education as our county and state prepares to go to the polls for the first time this election year,” according to an announcement of the forum.

The forum begins with a 30-minute meet and greet with candidates and appetizers.

At 6:30 p.m., the Q&A with the candidates will begin. The candidates will answer questions that were provided to them prior to the forum and questions from the audience will “also be vetted on forum night,” according to the announcement.

For more information on the forum, call The Avery Journal-Times editor Jamie Shell at 828-733-2448, or email editor@averyjournal.com.

See sample ballots for Avery County below.

For details about the elections in Avery County, click to the county’s Board of Elections website here. 

Avery County Ballots

Note that young adults that are not yet 18 years old but will be by the November election won’t be allowed to vote on the bond referendum. So 17-year-old voters will see similar ballots minus the bond referendum selection. 

Republican Primary Ballot

 

Democratic Primary Ballot

Libertarian Primary

 

Nonpartisan