Politics Archives

2022 Avery Primary Election Results… Henley, Burleson, Aldridge, Young, Jr., Singleton and Edwards Win County Races

May 18, 2022 Three first-time political candidates were the top vote-getters in their respective races to highlight Tuesday’s primary in Avery County. Mike Henley won the Sheriff’s race. He received 2,843 votes. Lee Buchanan got 1077; and Russell Carver received 173. With three seats open in the County Commissioners race, Robert Burleson received the highest number of votes with 1,963. Incumbents Dennis Aldridge and Wood Hall (Woodie) Young, Jr. followed with the next highest voting numbers. Aldridge got 1,853 votes and Young, Jr. 1,812. In the non-partisan Board of Education race, winners to fill the two seats open were: Randy Singleton, who got the most votes with 1,878, and incumbent Patricia (Pat) Edwards with 1,355. By Tim Gardner

Candidate Filing for 2022 Primary Elections Set to Resume February 24

January 12, 2022 Candidate filing for North Carolina’s 2022 primary elections, as well as rescheduled municipal elections, will resume at 8 a.m. Thursday, February 24, and end at noon on Friday, March 4, under an order issued Tuesday by the Superior Court of Wake County. The order (PDF) by a three-judge panel upheld state legislative and congressional district maps being challenged in redistricting-related lawsuits. “State Board of Elections staff will immediately begin preparing for the continuation of the candidate filing period, including securing a location to ensure the health and safety of staff and candidates,” said Karen Brinson Bell, State Board executive director. “We will provide all details to the public as soon as possible at NCSBE.gov and through an announcement distributed to the media.” County and municipal candidate filing also will resume on February 24 and take place at the county board of elections offices. Contact the specific county office for hours of operation and COVID-19 protocols.

Candidate Filing Period Comes to an End, Primary Elections May 8; See Who Is Running Here

Feb. 28, 2018. The candidate filing period has ended as of February 28, 2018 at noon, and all names are final for this year’s primary elections in North Carolina, according to the Watauga County Board of Elections. Statewide primary elections on May 8 will be voters’ first opportunity to cast their ballots and decide party candidates for the general election on Nov. 6. In Watauga County, the democratic primary ballot will feature one race, while the republican primary ballot will include candidates for five different offices. The Democratic Party’s primary ballot will include only one race: a vote between Jenny Marshall and DD Adams for candidacy as U.S. House Representative in the fifth district. On the republican ballot are three candidates for U.S. House Representative: the incumbent Virginia Foxx, Dillon Gentry and Cortland Meader. By Luke Weir

Supreme Court Makes Minor State Election Districts Changes; No Mountain Counties Affected

Feb. 21, 2018. United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts ruled last week that the state’s election districts will remain basically the same, according to Republican State Representative Josh Dobson, who serves the 85th District of Avery, Mitchell and McDowell counties. North Carolina’s GOP lawmakers had requested an official Supreme Court stay concerning changing the districts for this year’s state elections, asking that the districts not undergo any changes. Chief Justice Roberts did change districts affecting primarily the Piedmont county of Guilford and the Eastern counties of Bladen and Wayne, all of which are heavily-populated. But the Chief Justice left the remainder of the state’s districts intact. No mountain counties were affected with the ruling. However, the state’s prosecutorial district that includes Avery, Watauga, Mitchell, Yancey and Madison counties changed in number from the 24th to the 35th. Dobson declared the latest Supreme Court ruling “A victory for our state.” By Tim Gardner

Incumbent Foxx, Newcomer Marshall File for Same Seat in U.S. House of Representatives

Feb. 14, 20187. Virginia Foxx, republican United States House Representative for North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, filed for re-election Tuesday with the state board of elections in Raleigh, making her the second candidate to enter the race behind democrat Jenny Marshall, who filed Monday. North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District stretches across the northwest part of the state, including Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties. Foxx has been the district’s incumbent representative since 2005. By Luke Weir

Avery County Election Update: Eight File as Candidates for 2018 So Far

Feb. 13, 20187. This year will feature elections for county, state and national offices. At press time, eight have filed for offices that Avery County voters will elect or help elect. Filing for most county and district offices and some for state and federal offices began Monday, February 12 at 12:00 noon and runs through Wednesday, February 28 at 12:00 noon. Avery County offices open this year include: Commissioners, Board of Education, Sheriff, Clerk of Court and Soil and Water Supervisor. There are three seats open on the County Commission. The two candidates with the most votes will serve four-year terms, while the candidate with the third most votes will serve a two-year term. Two seats are open on the Board of Education. The winners for Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Board of Education and Soil and Water will all serve four-year terms By Tim Gardner

Races Begin in 2018 North Carolina Elections

Feb 12, 2018. Local government hopefuls lined up outside the Watauga County Board of Elections to file as candidates in the 2018 North Carolina state and local elections Monday at noon. Filing began Monday for the following offices: three positions on the board of commissioners, three positions on the board of education, clerk of superior court, district attorney, and sheriff. After the first day of filing, 14 candidates have signed up to run for public office in 2018, as follows: By Luke Weir

2018 is a Local and State Election Year – Here’s a Look at the Races to Come

Feb. 6, 20187. Candidate filing begins Monday, February 12, for most offices available in the 2018 North Carolina state and local elections. The following local offices are available for filing starting Feb. 12, according to the Watauga County Board of Elections: three positions on the board of commissioners, three positions on the board of education, superior court judge, clerk of superior court, district attorney, and sheriff. Candidacy may be filed for the above positions at the Watauga County Board of Elections from Feb. 12 at noon until February 28 at noon. By Luke Weir

Sen. Ballard Announces Re-Election Campaign

Nov. 14, 2017. North Carolina State Senator Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) announced her campaign for re-election, setting up a Republican Primary in 2018 with fellow State Senator Shirley Randleman (R-Wilkes) after recent court-ordered redistricting redrew the two incumbents into the same district covering Alleghany, Ashe, most of Surry, Watauga, and Wilkes counties.

11 Percent Voter Turnout in Watauga’s Municipal Elections, 18 percent in Avery’s Municipal Elections

Nov. 8, 2017. In Watauga County, 11.21 percent of the registered voters in municipalities in Watauga County cast a ballot in the 2017 municipal elections held on Tuesday. Of the 19,915 registered voters in Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone and Seven Devils, only 2,232 people voted. The turnout in Avery County was higher. In Avery County, 18.46 percent of the voters in municipalities in Avery County cast a ballot. By Jesse Wood

Main Takeaway from Municipal Elections in High Country, Incumbents Lose in Contested Races

Nov. 8, 2017. Incumbents were taken to the woodshed in most of the contested 2017 municipal elections in Watauga and Avery counties, according to the unofficial elections results from Tuesday. The three incumbents on the Boone Town Council – Jeannine Underdown Collins, Charlotte Mizelle and Quint David – won’t be serving a consecutive term on the council. Taking their place will be Sam Furgiuele, Marshall Ashcraft and Connie Ulmer. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie

Check Out Unofficial Results for 2017 Municipal Elections in Watauga and Avery Counties

Nov. 7, 2017. Here are the unofficial results for the 2017 municipal elections in Watauga and Avery counties. Story lines from election night include Blowing Rock electing a new mayor after two decades with J.B. Lawrence and council incumbents in towns like Boone, Beech Mountain, Newland and Blowing Rock being voted out of office. By Jesse Wood

1,000+ Residents in Avery, Watauga County Vote Early, Election Day is Today, Tuesday, Nov. 7

Nov. 7, 2017. Today is Election Day. Early voting for the municipal elections ended on Saturday. In Avery County, 86 people voted early, according to Sheila Ollis, director of elections in Avery County. In Watauga County, 951 people cast a ballot prior to Election Day, according to Donna Houck with the Watauga County Board of Elections. By Jesse Wood

Boone 2 Precinct Moved To Blue Ridge Ballroom for Nov. 7 Election Because of Flooding at Legends

Nov. 6, 2017. Due to the flooding that occurred on Oct. 23, and pursuant to G.S. § 163-27.1, N.C. State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement Executive Director Kim Strach designated the Appalachian State University Plemmons Student Union as the Boone #2 Precinct voting location for the Nov. 7, 2017, election, according to the Watauga County Board of Elections.

Sellers Challenges Again, Victory Would Earn J.B. his 11th Consecutive Term as Blowing Rock Mayor

Blowing Rock Mayor
After garnering 38 percent of the vote in the 2015 mayoral race in Blowing Rock, Charlie Sellers, owner of the Blowing Rock attraction, is once again challenging incumbent Mayor J.B. Lawrence. “I feel like a lot of the citizens have realized that maybe their needs have not been met and I feel like a lot of people feel like it’s time for a change,” said Sellers, when asked about not shying away after losing in the previous municipal election. By Jesse Wood

See Latest Early Voting Totals in Avery, Watauga

Oct. 30, 2017. Through the first week of early voting in the 2017 municipal elections, 453 people in Watauga County and 44 people in Avery County have cast ballots at the one-stop polls. Early voting ends on Saturday, Nov. 4. In Avery County, the sole one-stop site for the municipals is the elections office in the Avery County Courthouse. Watauga County, on the other hand, has two one-stop sites: the elections office in the Watauga County Courthouse and the Plemmons Student Union on the App State campus. By Jesse Wood

Boone Candidates Answer Questions on Howard Street, Flooding, The Standard & Meters in Downtown

Oct. 26, 2017. The Boone Area Chamber hosted a “Meet the Candidates” forum on Tuesday evening to educate the public on the upcoming municipal elections. Early voting began last week. Inside are videos of the candidates answering questions pertaining to continuous flooding problems in Boone, the completion of the Howard Street improvement project, paid parking in downtown Boone and opinions on The Standard development along Highway 321. By Jesse Wood • Videos by Ken Ketchie

Opening Statements from Boone Mayoral, Council Candidates at Forum on Tuesday

Oct. 25, 2017. The Boone Area Chamber hosted a “Meet the Candidates” forum on Tuesday evening to educate the public on the upcoming municipal elections. Early voting began last week. Check out video of the opening statements here and look for more posts on last night’s forum at HCPress.com. By Jesse Wood • Videos by Ken Ketchie

Early Voting Begins at App State Today, See Sample Ballots and Other Early Voting Sites, Hours

Oct. 26, 2017. Early voting for the municipal elections is ongoing in Watauga County in the Plemmons Student Union on the campus of Appalachian State and in the lower level of the Watauga County Courthouse in downtown Boone. In Avery County, early voting is happening in the elections office in the Avery County Courthouse. By Jesse Wood

Watauga County Voting Rights Task Force Protest at Appalachian State on Thursday, Oct. 26

Oct. 24, 2017. Watauga County Voting Rights Task Force will be hosting a protest to show that there is support among students and community members for a voting site in the ASU Student Union. The protest will be held at Appalachian State University this Thursday, October 26, at 12 p.m., on Sanford Mall.

Boone Chamber Hosts Meet the Candidates Forum at Fairway Cafe on Oct. 24

Oct. 24, 2017. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Meet the Candidates forum on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at Fairway Café, located at the Boone Golf Club. Candidates for the upcoming Boone Town Council race have been invited to attend along with incumbent Mayor Rennie Brantz, who is running unopposed in his bid to keep his seat.

Early Voting for Municipals Begins Thursday, Latest Court Order: No Early Voting at App State Campus

Oct. 18, 2017. Early voting in the 2017 municipal elections begins on Thursday, Oct. 19. As it stands on Wednesday afternoon, both Watauga County and Avery County will have one early voting site for the municipal elections. Both will be located in the elections offices in the courthouses of those respective counties. By Jesse Wood

Candidates for Local Office to Speak at Chamber-Sponsored Public Forum in Blowing Rock Oct. 16

Oct. 16, 2017. The public will have an opportunity to hear position statements and ask questions of candidates for the elected offices of Town Council and Mayor, at a public “Candidates’ Forum” on Monday, Oct. 16 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium.

Blowing Rock Civic Association To Sponsor Candidate Round Table Discussion Oct. 12

Oct. 12, 2017. They may not see eye-to-eye on all the issues, but Blowing Rock’s candidates for the open Town Council seats (three for Town Council and one for Mayor) will get a chance to go nose-to-nose with their positions and insights on the Town’s governance. “Issues & Insights: Blowing Rock Candidates Roundtable” will be jointly presented by Blowing Rock Civic Association and Blowing Rock News on Thursday, Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m., at the American Legion Building, 333 Wallingford St., Blowing Rock. Admission is free.

Ray Russell Announces Candidacy for 93rd NC House District in November 2018 General Election

Oct. 9, 2017. Ray Russell, Founder and Owner of RaysWeather.Com, will announce his candidacy for the 93 North Carolina House Seat with a rally at Lost Province in Downtown Boone on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Regarding his candidacy, Ray said, “The heart of North Carolina is ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ In the coming campaign and then in the North Carolina House of Representatives, I’ll live out that principle by demonstrating RESPECT for people, LISTENing to your voices, and LEADing this region with skill and innovation.”

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