Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

March 6, 2008 issue

Watauga GOP Finds No Candidates for Commission Seats

Story by Kathleen McFadden

The Watauga County Board of Elections office was quiet last Friday during the final hours of the candidate filing period for the 2008 election. And when the clock ticked over to noon, time had run out for the Watauga County Republican Party to field any candidates for the three open commissioners’ seats. According to Board of Elections Director Jane Hodges, Watauga County has never had an uncontested commissioners’ race.

At the Republican Convention on Saturday, March 1, Watauga County GOP Chair Dr. Jim Goff told the group, “You will not hear me talk about what we don’t have, but about what we do have—attractive candidates for offices.”

However, after the speeches from the state and federal candidates who attended the convention and the business portion of the gathering, party member Jean di Cola asked Goff to explain why the party was running no candidates for the commissioners’ seats.

Goff said that the party’s candidate recruitment committee chaired by Tom Foxx formed last April and “contacted more potential candidates than ever before—more than 100.” Goff continued, “People were considering it right up until the last minute, but for personal reasons decided not to file. Am I disappointed? Yes, and I know you are.”

Di Cola responded, “Look at the message it sends to the county. We have 13,000 Republicans registered and what we’re saying is that we’re not involved in the issues facing the county. It’s appalling to me.” Di Cola asked how she could explain the situation to people she called in the party’s get out the vote effort.

“There’s no reason to hide it,” Goff said. “You don’t need to give excuses.”

Longtime party activist Deborah Greene asked to address the group. “I was contacted to run,” Greene said, “and it came down to a choice between my marriage and running for office. I promised to run in the future when my son graduates from high school.” Greene then urged the party members at the convention to “do what I’ve been doing since 1999—go to the commissioners’ meetings and sign up for public comment.”

 

Election 2008 Update

Candidate filing for the 2008 election closed on Friday, February 29, at 12:00 p.m.

Prior to the close of the filing period, current Board of Education member Ron Henries announced that he would not seek reelection because of time constraints with his teaching, mentoring and nonprofit volunteer activities. Current Board of Commissioners member Mary Moretz said that she will not seek reelection, but did not respond to a request for a statement.

Here’s who will be on the ballot for local offices.

Watauga County

NC Senate: Steve Goss (D), Jerry Butler (R), Dwight Shook (R)

Butler and Shook will be on the primary ballot in May. The winner will face Goss in the November General Election.

NC House of Representatives: Cullie Tarleton (D), Daniel Soucek (R)

Board of Commissioners: Jim Deal (unopposed), Winston Kinsey (unopposed), Doug McGuinn (D), Tim Futrelle (D)

McGuinn and Futrelle will be on the primary ballot in May. The winner will take Mary Moretz’s seat on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.

Board of Education: Steve Combs, Deborah Miller, Marsha Walpole, David Ward, Joni Horine

Three seats are open on the Board of Education. The election is nonpartisan and because fewer than six candidates registered to run, there will be no primary.

Register of Deeds: JoAnn Townsend (unopposed)