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Election filing ends, race starts
By Scott Nicholson
With the filing period over, the Watauga County Board of Commissioners
is almost guaranteed to remain in
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Tim Futrelle
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Election Dates
April
Friday, April 11—Voter Registration deadline for May
6 Primary Election. Forms must be postmarked or delivered
in person by 5 p.m. on April 11.
Thursday, April 17—One Stop Absentee voting begins
for Primary
Tuesday, April 29—Last day to request absentee ballots
in writing.
May
Saturday, May 3—One-Stop Absentee Voting ends at 1
p.m.
Tuesday, May 6—Primary Day
Tuesday, May 13—Canvass Day 11 a.m.
June
Monday, June 9—Soil & Water Conservation District
filing opens at noon
Tuesday, June 24—Second Primary Day (if Necessary)
July
Tuesday, July 1—Canvass Day for Second Primary (if
Necessary) 11 a.m.
Monday, July 7—Soil & Water Conservation District
filing ends at noon.
September
Monday, Sept. 15—Absentee ballots ready for General
Election.
October
Friday, Oct. 10—Voter registration deadline for Nov.
4 General Election. Forms must be postmarked or delivered
in person by 5 p.m. on Oct. 10.
Thursday, Oct. 16—One-stop Absentee voting begins for
the General Election.
Tuesday, Oct. 28—Last day to request absentee ballots
in writing.
November
Saturday, Nov. 1—One-Stop Absentee voting ends at 1
p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4—General Election Day
Friday, Nov. 14—Canvass Day for General Election 11
a.m.
Source: Watauga County Board of Elections |
the hands of the Democrats.
No Republican candidates filed for county commission, with three
seats open. Incumbents Jim Deal and Winston Kinsey have no opponents
and will return to the board barring a late campaign by an independent
candidate, who would have to come up with a petition bearing the
signatures of 4 percent of the electorate before appearing on
the General Election ballot.
In District I, two Democratic candidates will vie in the primary
to replace Mary Moretz on the commission. Doug McGuinn, who lost
to Moretz in 2006, is running again “because I think the
common person doesn’t have a voice on the commission.”
McGuinn said the economy is slumping and headed for a recession,
and the local economy relies too much on real estate and visitors.
“Watauga County is dependent too much on the second-home
market and tourists,” he said. “The second-home market
is going to collapse. We have high real estate values, and our
young people are forced out of the county. Too many people who
work in the county have to live outside the county.”
Tim Futrelle also filed for the seat, marking his first run for
public office.
“I’ve become more and more active in the last few years,”
Futrelle said. “I’ve seen this opportunity arise, and
it’s time to step up and serve the people of Watauga County.”
Futrelle said his experience in corporate management would help
in running the county. He stressed a commitment to the high school,
water availability and law enforcement as important issues and
said he’d given running a lot of consideration to ensure
he’d be able to invest the necessary time for the position.
The primary ballot will feature at least one other district race.
Dwight Shook, chairman of the Alexander County Republican Party,
has filed to run against Boone dentist Jerry Butler for the party
nomination for the District 45 N.C. Senate seat. Incumbent Dem.
Steve Goss has filed for a second term.
Incumbent Democrat Cullie Tarleton has filed for a second term
in the N.C. House of representatives, and Republican Dan Soucek
has filed to run against him for the District 93 seat.
The school board race grew a little more crowded as David Albert
Ward and Joni Horine joined three others in the race to fill three
open seats. Incumbents Steve Combs and Deborah Miller are seeking
re-election, and Marsha Walpole has also filed for the seat.
Horine, of Boone, is an Appalachian State University graduate
and teacher.
“I am honored and excited to join the race for school board,”
she said. “I look forward to exchanging ideas and finding
solutions to the tough issues of our public education. We do have
a great school system. However, students today face challenges
as yet unseen in our community. My top three priorities are building
bridges within our communities, developing incentives to recruit
high-quality teachers, starting with affordable housing, and maintaining
responsible taxpayer spending to ensure we provide each student
with the necessary tools of education.”
Ward, who lives in Sugar Grove, is a pastor and salesman who said
he ran because of his religious beliefs.
“It’s something the Lord laid on my heart,” he
said. “I’m concerned about safety and peace in young
people’s hearts.”
Ward said while the Holy Bible couldn’t be brought into public
educational programs, there should be programs for “knowing
about the Lord.” He also said he supports character-building
and prison-prevention programs.
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5) has filed for reelection, and Roy
Carter of Ashe County and Diane Hamby of Iredell County have filed
as Democratic challengers for the seat.
Incumbent Republican JoAnn Townsend is unopposed for Watauga County
Register of Deeds. The primary is on May 6.
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