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Another Candidate Debate/Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at ASU’s Broyhill Events Center, Foxx Declines Invite

By Jesse Wood Oct. 15, 2012. As part of the ASU Department of Communication’s Fall Debate Series, candidates for the N.C. House and Senate, U.S. House and Watauga County Board of Commissioners will pitch their candidacy on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Broyhill Events Center inside the Helen Powers Grand Hall. Participants include candidates for the 93rd District of the N.C. House – Jonathan Jordan and Cullie Tarleton; 45th District of the N.C. Senate – Dan Soucek and Roy Carter; the Watauga County Board of Commissioners – Tommy Adams, Vince Gable, Billy Kennedy, Virginia Roseman, John Welch and Perry Yates; and N.C. 5th District of U.S. House – Elisabeth Motsinger. Virginia Foxx, who resides in the High Country, declined her invitation participate, according to a release from ASU. A representative from Foxx’s campaign hasn’t returned a phone call as of Monday morning. The event, which is presented by AppSpeaks, College Democrats, College REpublicans and the SGA, is open to the public and is free to attend. A reception will follow the forum. For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Motter at 828-262-7527 or email him at motterjb@appstate.edu.

Bills for Boone’s ETJ, Water Intake Die Today; Soucek’s and Jordan’s Opponents in November Election Speak Out

By Jesse Wood July 3, 2012. As the General Assembly wraps up its Regular Session of the 2011-2012 biennium today, local bills that affect the Town of Boone were pushed to the wayside and left to die in committee. Those bills in question include Sen. Dan Soucek’s sponsored Senate Bill 949, which would strip Boone’s ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction) rights and Rep. Jonathan Jordan’s sponsored House Bill 1227, which would null and void the state’s water reclassification needed for Boone to construct its four million-gallons-per-day raw water intake facility on the New River. The Regular Session of the 2012-13 biennium won’t won’t meet until January 30, 2013 – a few months after the General Election, which could decide if these two bills make their way back into the General Assembly. Both Jordan and Soucek are running for re-election. Soucek told High Country Press yesterday that he vowed to take a “leadership role” regarding ETJs across the High Country and the state in the future – no matter what happens this session. Jordan could not be reached for comment.  Opponents of both Jordan and Soucek in November’s General Election have been vocal about both of these issues affecting Boone.  In November, Soucek is running against Roy J. …

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Boone’s ETJ Powers in Jeopardy

June 1, 2012. On Monday, June 4, the Boone Town Council will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. to consult with town attorney Sam Furgiuele about the ramification of a recently introduced bill that could potentially strip Boone of extra-territorial jurisdiction powers.
BY PAUL T. CHOATE

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