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Watauga County Board of Elections Holds Canvass, Official Results for Municipal Elections In

By Jesse Wood

Nov. 12, 2013. After the Watauga County Board of Elections’ canvass, held Tuesday at 11 a.m., the results for the 2013 municipal races are official. 

Of the municipalities in Watauga County, Boone had the lowest voter turnout with 12 percent of 16,399 registered voters making their way to the polls this election season. 

Beech Mountain had 56 percent of its 399 registered voters vote, while Blowing Rock had 51 percent of its 1,242 registered voters vote. Even Seven Devils, which had no contested races, had 25 percent of its voters turn out on Election Day.

Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges (left) and Board Members Bill Aceto, Kathleen Campbell and Luke Eggers review provisional results during canvass on Tuesday. Photo by Jesse Wood
Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges (left) and Board Members Bill Aceto, Kathleen Campbell and Luke Eggers review provisional results during canvass on Tuesday. Photo by Jesse Wood

Of the 117 provisional ballots cast, 94 were approved. Those that weren’t approved were mainly cast by unregistered voters, and Hodges said all of the provisionals were from Boone voters. In the week prior, the State Board of Elections, like it does in all counties, selected precincts to be hand counted. Blue Ridge precinct in Boone and Beech Mountain precinct were selected. No discrepancies were found. 

Also, the Watauga County Board of Elections counted three absentee ballots that were post-marked with the last possible date to be approved during the canvass. 

As for end results to the races, little changed except for Jennifer Pena leaped Rennie Brantz for top vote-getter in the Boone Town Council race. Brantz and Pena will receive a four-year term, while Quint David will receive a two-year term. 

See below for the official results for Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Seven Devils and Boone. 

Beech Mountain:

  • Election Day: 182
  • Absentee: 17
  • One-Stop: 26
  • Total: 225 of 399 registered voters (56 percent voter turnout)

Beech Mountain Town Council Results

    • E. Rick Miller: 159
    • Paul Piquet: 158
    • Cindy Keller: 147
    • Eddie Plante: 71
    • Barry Schorr: 61
    • Write-in: 4

Blowing Rock:

  • Election Day: 501
  • Absentee: 13
  • One-Stop: 113
  • Total: 627 of 1,242 (51 percent voter turnout)

Blowing Rock Mayor Results

    • J.B. Lawrence: 452
    • Dan Phillips: 160
    • Write-in: 2

Blowing Rock Town Council Results

    • Doug Matheson: 425
    • Sue Sweeting: 410
    • Ray Pickett: 279
    • Tommy Klutz: 222
    • Laurin Carter: 180
    • David Barker: 145
    • Write-in: 1

Seven Devils:

  • Election Day: 37
  • Absentee: 0
  • One-Stop: 1
  • Total: 38 of 152 (25 percent voter turnout)

Seven Devils Town Council

    • David Hooper: 30
    • Kay Ehlinger: 29
    • David Ehmig: 28
    • Write-in: 12

Boone:

  • Election Day: 780
  • Absentee: 34
  • One-Stop: 1,014
  • Transfer: 52
  • Provisional: 94
  • Total: 1,974 of 16,399 (12 percent voter turnout)

Boone Mayor Results

    • Andy Ball: 1,139
    • John Mena: 517
    • Brad Harmon: 151
    • Write-in: 128

Boone Town Council Results

    • Jennifer Pena: 1,202
    • Rennie Brantz: 1,191
    • Quint David: 1,093
    • Mark Templeton: 720
    • Matthew Long: 691
    • James Milner: 568