Scott wins fourth term
Mayor Bob Scott won a fourth term in office in Tuesday night’s municipal election, holding off a challenge from Barbara McRae.
Scott won 322 votes in the mayoral race compared to 213 votes for McRae, who serves as town council member and vice mayor.
Scott credits his victory to a large base of voters who recognize him as a leader and an advocate of open government.
“I think that people know my record,” Scott said. “They know that it’s been 17 years since I started serving on the town council and they know that I’m always accessible.”
After the results were announced, McRae expressed gratitude for all of the supporters who made her run for mayor possible.
McRae said she is confident that the town will continue to make changes for the better going forward. She also expressed optimism about newly elected town council members Mike Lewis and Jack Horton.
“It’s disappointing, but I’m very grateful for all of the people who supported me,” McRae said. “I feel really good about the board that we have. I think things are going to be just fine.”
Before the campaign began, Scott and McRae found themselves on opposite sides in the controversial transfer of the Nikwasi Mound ownership to a nonprofit.
McRae spearheaded an effort to transfer the mound to the Nikwasi Initiative, which includes the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as part of a plan to establish Native American historical sites in Western North Carolina.
Scott, along with a group of citizens, opposed the transfer, arguing that the town should retain ownership. The town acquired the deed in 1946 when residents raised enough money to purchase the half-acre site property and save it from being leveled for private development.
In May, Franklin Town Council voted unanimously to transfer the deed, but Scott signed off on the transfer under duress.
Hard feelings remained after the transfer, and Scott said the controversy clearly played a role in the outcome of the mayoral race.
“I think that is what it came down to,” Scott said. “In many ways, from a public relations standpoint, it was mishandled. We didn’t have to divide the community the way that we did.”
McRae disagreed, saying, “I hope that this isn’t seen as a referendum on the mound. I don’t think that it is. Maybe I’m just not as popular as I thought.”
McRae said she intends to continue serving on the town council and plans to run to retain her seat in 2010, although her position as vice mayor will have to be voted on again when the new council begins in January.
Scott endorsed McRae to continue as vice mayor, praising her record as a knowledgeable historian and for running a positive campaign this year.
“I hope that the town council will keep her as vice mayor,” Scott said. “There are a lot of things that I would like to be able to lean on her for.”
Scott ran unopposed in the last two mayoral races, and the challenge from McRae likely boosted turnout in Tuesday’s election.
A total of 540 ballots were cast for mayor on Tuesday, just under double the 287 ballots cast in the 2017 mayoral. The 2015 mayoral drew 323 votes.
Overall turnout Tuesday was 24.39 percent, compared to 11.88 percent in 2017 and 15.58 percent in 2015.
“This is the best turnout we’ve had for a municipal election for a very long time, thanks to Barbara and Bob,” Dills said.
Scott and the town council will be sworn in Monday, Jan. 6.
Lewis, Collins, Horton take town council seats
Jake Browning
reporter@thefranklinpress.com
Franklin Town Council incumbent Joe Collins retained his seat in Tuesday’s municipal elections, with political newcomer Mike Lewis and former Macon County manager Jack Horton claiming the other two open seats.
Current council member Brandon McMahan lost his bid for a second term.
Lewis was the overall top vote-getter with 301 votes and 20.48 percent of the total.
Lewis said he was overwhelmed to see so much support for his campaign, even after spending his day on Tuesday greeting voters at the polling place at town hall. He said he is eager to start helping to improve Franklin and is thankful for everyone who showed him support.
“I just kept putting my name out there and talking to people, and I guessed it worked out,” Lewis said. “I’m excited for my first meeting so that I can get down to work.”
Collins, a current council member and a former mayor of Franklin, trailed Lewis by just one vote, earning 300 and 20.41 percent.
Horton, a former Macon County commissioner and current member of the Macon County Airport Authority, earned 284 votes, 19.38 percent, and won the third available seat on the council. Horton also expressed his gratitude to the voters, not only his own but everyone who got involved in the election this year.
“Good government depends on responsible leadership and citizen participation,” Horton said. “I look forward to serving on the town council and doing my part to help Franklin prosper and continue to be the place where everyone would like to live if they had the opportunity.”
The fourth-highest vote total went to McMahan – 258 votes and 17.55 percent – though it wasn’t enough to retain his seat.
McMahan was unsure of whether or not to run close to the filing deadline, citing threats against his family following the Nikwasi Mound controversy, but ultimately decided to run for re-election.
McMahan said he’s disappointed that he won’t be around to see the projects that began during his term finished, but he has full faith that the new board will do an excellent job.
“Even when the people who will be continuing the project in your place are certainly more than capable, there’s still a degree of disappointment that you won’t be able to carry something you were proud of through to the end,” McMahan said. “That being said, however, I think that all of the people who were elected are great choices and are very deserving. Two of them I voted for myself. I look forward to seeing what they have to offer the town and they have my total support.”
Also receiving votes in the election were Peter Mosco with 155, T.J. Wright with 69, Daniel Coates with 54 and Kevin Klatt with 44.
Town council member Adam Kimsey chose not to run for a second term, saying he felt it was more important for other citizens to have a chance to contribute to the council.
The new town council will be sworn in Monday, Jan. 6.