Prime Numbers
Futrelle secures commissioner seat in Democratic primary

By Scott Nicholson

Tim Futrelle wrapped up a seat on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners by defeating Doug McGuinn in Tuesday’s primary.

Tim Futrelle speaks with the media after winning the Democratic primary in his bid for a seat on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners. Photo by Scott Nicholson CLICK HERE FOR RELATED VIDEO

Futrelle, who joins unopposed Democrats Jim Deal and Winston Kinsey on the fall ballot, is an Appalachian State University student making his first run for public office. He defeated McGuinn by a margin of more than two to one.

“I feel very fortunate that both Doug and I have run a very clean race and an issue-based race,” he said at the county courthouse after voting totals were released. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet people and hear their concerns.”

Futrelle spent Primary Election Day greeting voters and passing out campaign material, and said the campaign gave him a chance to see what was on the voters’ minds. “Folks seemed to be very focused on making sure money in the county is spent well,” he said, noting that he was a fiscal conservative who would bring that attitude to the commission.

He also said that though he was younger than the traditional county commissioner, he would bring energy and drive to his duties.

Watauga Democratic Party chairwoman Diane Tilson said Futrelle was a welcome addition to the party. “Tim is young and has good ideas. He’s more than just a student; he’s worked for a living and is also a productive member of the community and will be a good commissioner,” she said.

Tilson also noted that having all five seats on the county commission sewn up, the Democrats can now focus on state and national races in the fall.

The race between Democrats Diane Hamby and Roy Carter is too close to call in unofficial returns, with Carter holding a slight lead for the Fifth District Congressional nomination. Carter holds a lead of less than a percentage point. The margin of 531 votes is likely enough to hold up during the official canvass scheduled next week. The winner will face incumbent Republican Virginia Foxx in the fall.

Boone dentist Jerry Butler defeated former Alexander County party chairman Dwight Shook for the Republican nomination in the District 45 N.C. Senate race. Butler failed to carry his home county of Watauga, though, losing by more than 100 votes. He made up for it by dominating Ashe and Wilkes counties, despite a last-minute mailing that criticized Butler for false advertising in his dental practice. Butler will face Democratic incumbent Steve Goss in the fall, ensuring that the senate seat will be held by a Boone resident.

“I’d like to thank the voters of the district for putting their confidence in me,” Butler said. “I’m certainly looking forward to going and representing the people in the N.C. Senate. We’re particularly proud of running a positive campaign, which I think the people appreciated. We’re planning to run our race the same way in the fall.”

Butler said campaigning had brought economic issues to the forefront. “I really believe a lot of the voters are concerned about new jobs throughout our district, particularly since we serve such a broad spectrum,” he said.

From higher education to family farms, the district has many factions to serve, Butler said.

Watauga Democrats followed the state in supporting presidential candidate Barack Obama, with Obama topping Hillary Clinton by nearly 900 votes locally, while getting 56 percent of the statewide ballots.

The canvass is May 13, and a runoff will likely take place on June 20, with a close race for the Democratic Lieutenant Governor nomination yet to be decided. Voter turnout in Watauga County was nearly 30 percent, with more than a third of voters casting their ballots during the one-stop