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FEBRUARY 25, 2010 ISSUE

Election 2010

Compiled by Sam Calhoun

Important Dates for the 2010 Election

Friday, February 26—Candidate filing period closes at noon

Monday, March 15—Absentee voting period begins
Friday, April 9—Voter registration deadline for May 4 primary
Thursday, April 15—One-stop voting begins
Tuesday, April 27—Last day to request absentee ballot
Saturday, May 1—One-stop voting ends at 1:00 p.m.
Monday, May 3—Absentee ballots due

Tuesday, May 4—Primary Election

Tuesday, May 11—Canvass at 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 3—One-stop voting begins for second primary (if necessary)
Saturday, June 19—One-stop voting ends for second primary

Tuesday, June 22—Second Primary (if necessary)

Friday, June 29—Canvass (if necessary)
Friday, September 3—Absentee period begins for November 2 general election
Friday, October 8—Voter registration deadline for November 2 general election
Thursday, October 14—One-stop voting begins for general election
Tuesday, October 26—Last day to request absentee ballot
Saturday, October 30—One-stop voting ends at 1:00 p.m.
Monday, November 1—Absentee ballots due

Tuesday, November 2—General Election

Friday, November 12—Canvass at 11:00 a.m.

Candidate filing for 2010 elections ends this Friday, February 26, the primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, and the general election will take place Tuesday, November 2.

So far, six races in Avery and Watauga counties will require a primary election, including a Republican and Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, a Republican primary for U.S. House 5th District, a Republican primary for N.C. Senate 45th District, a Republican and Democratic primary for Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court, a Republican primary for N.C. Senate 47th District and a Republican primary for Avery County Sheriff.

For the U.S. Senate primary, incumbent Richard Burr will have to fend off two Republicans—Eddie Burks and Brad Jones—to advance to the general election, and four Democrats will go head-to-head to achieve the party nod: Elaine Marshall, Ken Lewis, Marcus W. Williams and Cal Cunningham.

Newcomer Keith Gardner’s filing creates the need for a Republican primary against incumbent Virginia Foxx for U.S. House 5th District. The winner will take on local Democrat Billy Kennedy.

Daniel F. Soucek and Jeffrey Elmore will face off in a Republican primary for N.C. Senate 45th District. The winner will take on incumbent Steve Goss.

For the Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court race, incumbent Wanda K. Howell and newcomer Lowell K. Younce will compete in a Republican primary, and Steve Combs, Diane Cornett Deal and Tom Trexler will go head-to-head in a Democratic primary.

Three Republicans—Tamera Frank, Andy Webb and Ralph Hise—will face off in a primary for N.C. Senate 47th District. The winner will take on incumbent Joe Sam Queen.

Incumbent Kevin Frye will have to beat Russell Carver and Michale E. Ellenburg in a Republican primary for Avery County Sheriff.

High Country Press will update readers on the complete candidate filing list for both Avery and Watauga counties in next week’s issue, compiling the names and races of candidates that file this Friday, February 26.

For more information on Watauga County elections, click to www.wataugacounty.org/elections.

For more information on Avery County elections, click to www.averycountync.gov/boardOfElections.htm.

Watauga County

US Senate – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $174,000; Staggered Six-Year Term)
Richard Burr: (I) REP
Cal Cunningham: DEM
Marcus W. Williams: DEM
Eddie Burks: REP
Michael Beitler: LIB
Ken Lewis: DEM
Brad Jones: REP
Elaine Marshall: DEM

US House 5th District – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $174,000; Two-Year Term)
Virginia Foxx: (I) REP
Billy Kennedy: DEM
Keith Gardner: REP

NC Senate 45th District – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $20,659; Two-Year Term)
Steve Goss: (I) DEM
Daniel F. Soucek: REP
Jeffrey Elmore: REP

NC House 93rd District – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $20,659; Two-Year Term)
Cullie Tarleton: (I) DEM

Board of Commissioners – 3 Seats
(Annual Salary: $9,287.64 [$6,860.76 stipend/$2,426.88 travel allowance]; Two, Four-Year Terms/One, Two-Year Term)
Winston Lee Kinsey: (I) DEM (District 5)
Billy Ralph Winkler: (I) DEM (District 2)
Lowell Thomas: DEM (District 4)
Nathan Miller: REP (District 5)

Board of Education – 3 Seats
(Annual Salary: $5,000 [chair], $4,500 [members], $1,500 [travel allowance]; Two-Year Terms)
Charlie Wallin
Marsha Walpole
John Welch
Scott Courtney

District Attorney 24th District – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $119,300; Four-Year Term)
Gerald W. Wilson: (I) REP

Sheriff – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $65,617; Four-Year Term)
Len (L.D.) Hagaman: (I) DEM
William Doughton Byrd: Unaffiliated*

Clerk of Superior Court – 1 Seat
(Annual Salary: $82,400; Four-Year Term)
Wanda K. Howell: (I) REP
Steve Combs: DEM
Diane Cornett Deal: DEM
Lowell K. Younce: REP
Tom Trexler: DEM

Superior Court Judge 24th District – 2 Seats
Phil Ginn
Gary Gavenus
Hal G. Harrison

*= In order to file, candidates must be affiliated with the party they wish to run under for at least 90 days prior to the date they file. Byrd was registered as unaffiliated until January when he changed his affiliation to Republican. Because he did not change the affiliation long enough before the filing date, Byrd must run as unaffiliated. To run as unaffiliated, Byrd must have a petition signed by 1,615 qualified voters, or 4 percent of the total number of registered voters in Watauga County as of January 2 (40,370), by noon on June 25.