Filing for 2009 Municipal Elections July 6 to 17

Story by Anna Oakes

Candidate filing for the 2009 municipal elections takes place Monday, July 6, through Friday, July 17, in Watauga and Avery counties. Filing ends at noon on July 17 in Avery County. All local elections are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 3, this year.

Below are the seats that are open on elected boards in several High Country municipalities.

Boone
Mayor, 3 Council Seats
The Boone municipal election moves to Tuesday, November 3, this year. Boone town elections have previously taken place in October.

Current Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson, who will have served a pair of two-year terms as Boone’s mayor come December, has said she plans to run for re-election. The Boone Town Council recently voted to extend the mayoral term from two years to four years, which will take effect with the election in November.

Council member Janet Pepin will not run for re-election.

“I am not running for office and thoroughly enjoyed my four years of service to the Town of Boone,” Pepin said. “For those who are running this year, be ready for the most challenging and incredible job of your life.”

Council member Rennie Brantz’s seat is also open, and he said he plans to run again. “I’m looking forward to continuing the work we’ve started,” he said.

Council member Liz Aycock, whose seat is also open in the next election, resigned her position effective June 30 because she is moving outside of the corporate town limits. The council will appoint someone to serve the rest of her term.

The top two vote-getters in town council elections are elected to four-year terms, while the third highest vote-earner serves a two-year term.

Blowing Rock
Mayor, 3 Council Seats
Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence plans to run for re-election. Lawrence has served as mayor since 1997 and previously served on the council from 1989 to 1997. The mayor serves a two-year term.

Neither council member Keith Tester nor council member Barbara Ball plan to run for re-election in the fall.

“I served two terms, and that was my intent,” Tester said. Ball has served on the council for 16 years.

Council member Tommy Klutz’s seat is also open, but Klutz could not be reached as of press time. Blowing Rock Town Council members serve four-year terms.

Seven Devils
3 Council Seats
Three seats are open on the Seven Devils Town Council, including that of Mayor Bob Dodson. The top two vote-getters receive four-year terms, and the candidate with the third highest votes receives a two-year term. The mayor is selected by the council and is a voting member of the council.

Dodson indicated he does plan to run for re-election to the council.

Council member Kay Ehlinger said she has not yet decided whether she will run again. Council member Bill Wilkinson could not be reached as of press time.

Beech Mountain
3 Council Seats
Beech Mountain’s Town Council is comprised of five voting members. The mayor and vice mayor are selected from and by the members. Three council seats are available, with the top two candidates receiving four-year terms and the third receiving a two-year term.

The council seats of Vice Mayor Gil Adams and Randy Corn are open in 2009, but neither could be reached for comment. Council member Pete Chamberlin said he will run for re-election.

Banner Elk
Mayor, 2 Council Seats
Banner Elk Mayor Deka Tate said she will run for re-election in November. The Banner Elk mayor serves a two-year term.
Council members are elected to four-year terms. Council member Gail Draughon said she will run again. Council member Brenda Lyerly could not be reached as of press time.

Newland
Mayor, 3 Council Seats
Newland Mayor Valerie Jayne’s seat is open in the 2009 election. The Newland mayor currently serves a two-year term.
The seats of council members Donetta McKinney, Roxanna Roberson and Thomas Jackson are also open this year. The top two vote-getters serve four-year terms and the third-place finisher serves a two-year term.