Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 8, 2008 issue
Big Turnout, Big Wins in Primary Races
Story by Kathleen McFadden
Prior to Tuesday’s primary, the Charlotte Observer predicted that up to 2 million North Carolinians would cast ballots in the election, representing a voter turnout of 34 percent. That prediction was spot on.
The number of ballots cast statewide in the primary was 2,094,492, a voter turnout of 36.04 percent. In Watauga County, voter turnout was 29.98 percent. In Avery, it was 38.75 percent.
Early voting was up from previous years. Statewide, according to the NC Board of Elections, 471,000 North Carolinians voted at One Stop voting centers.
Obama vs. Clinton
Results-wise, presidential contender Barack Obama carried Watauga County and North Carolina, but Avery County went for Hillary Clinton.
In Watauga, two precincts—Blowing Rock and Blue Ridge—were evenly divided on support for the two candidates for the Democratic nomination. In Blowing Rock, both Obama and Clinton received 224 votes each. At the Blue Ridge precinct, 190 voters cast ballots for Obama, and 190 cast ballots for Clinton.
U.S. Senate
NC Senator Kay Hagan and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole won big in their respective primaries. The two will face off in November in a contest for Dole’s senate seat.
U.S. House
In Congressional District 10, Republican Patrick McHenry demolished his primary opponent Lance Sigmon, winning 73 percent of Avery County’s vote and 67 percent districtwide.
In Congressional District 5, Democrat Roy Carter narrowly defeated his opponent Diane Hamby. Carter took 59.33 percent of the vote in Watauga, but districtwide captured 50.34 percent of the vote to Hamby’s 49.66 percent.
Governor
Gubernatorial race results in the two counties mirrored the state results, with Democrat Bev Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory winning in both Avery and Watauga.
Lieutenant Governor
For lieutenant governor, Democrat Walter Dalton will face Republican Robert Pittenger in November. Those two candidates carried Watauga and Avery.
Auditor
In the Democratic primary for state auditor, Beth Wood defeated Fred Aikens, carrying 64.53 percent of the statewide vote, as well as majorities in Watauga and Avery.
Commissioner of Insurance
In the Democratic primary for commissioner of insurance, Wayne Godwin defeated David Smith with 56.09 percent of the vote. Smith carried Avery County, but Godwin took Watauga.
Commissioner of Labor
The Democratic primary for commissioner of labor was too close to call at press time. Each of the four candidates—Mary Fant Donnan, Ty Richardson, Robin Anderson and John Brooks—split the statewide vote almost evenly among them, with a range from Donnan’s high of 27.58 percent to Anderson’s 23.92 percent.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Democratic incumbent June St. Clair Atkinson will face Republican Richard Morgan in November for the superintendent of public instruction seat. Atkinson won in both Watauga and Avery, and while Watauga went for Morgan, voters in Avery gave the county win to Joe Johnson.
Treasurer
In the Democratic primary for state treasurer, Janet Cowell defeated Michael Weisel and David Young. Cowell won the majority in both Watauga and Avery.
NC State Senate—District 45
Jerry Butler, Republican candidate for NC Senate, lost his home county of Watauga, but won districtwide over challenger Dwight Shook.
Watauga County Commission
In Watauga County, Tim Futrelle handily defeated challenger Doug McGuinn in the race for the District 1 seat on the county commission.
Avery Commission, Register of Deeds, Board of Education
The top three vote-getters in the commissioners’ race in Avery were Martha Jaynes Hicks, Scott Heath and Phyllis Forbes. Tammy Baker easily won the Register of Deeds primary, and the top three vote-getters in the Avery Board of Education primary were Jamie Johnson, John Greene and Kathey Aldridge.