One-stop voting for the primary election winds down this week with the last day to vote early being Saturday, May 14.
One-stop voting is available at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin and the Highlands Civic Center. The sites are open 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
As of Tuesday, May 10 at 12:22 p.m., 2,688 ballots had been cast during one-stop voting, which began April 28. That total includes 335 Democratic ballots and 2,353 Republican ballots.
Unaffiliated Voting
Last week, Macon County Board of Elections Director Melanie Thibault said she was getting many phone calls from people registered as Unaffiliated who think they cannot vote in the primary election.
Unaffiliated voters can vote in the primary, but they must choose if they want to vote a Democratic or Republican ballot. Unaffiliated voters do not have to change their party affiliation. When you show up to vote, tell the poll worker which ballot you want.
Primary Election Day
Primary Election Day will be Tuesday, May 17. All precincts will be open 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Editor’s Note: With the polls closing after The Franklin Press goes to press on Tuesday, look for election results on our Facebook page on Tuesday night and our website thefranklinpress.com. Full coverage will be provided in the May 25 edition of the paper.
Ballots
The Democratic ballot includes two races: U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. There are no local races on the Democratic ballot for the primary. Democratic candidates running unopposed automatically advanced to the November General Election.
The Republican ballot includes U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, N.C. Supreme Court seat 5, N.C. Court of Appeals judge seats 9 and 11, in addition to the local races for sheriff, Board of County Commissioners district 1 and district 2, and clerk of superior court.
County Commissioners
In profiles submitted to the Press, the Board of County Commissioners candidates identified their top three issues. Full interviews with the candidates were published in the April 27 edition of the paper.
County Commissioners – District 1
John Shearl – Top 3 issues: 1) taxes/property revaluation, 2) capital improvements 3) high-speed internet
Don Willis – Top 3 issues: 1) school building needs, 2) economic development, 3) future expenditures/transparency with taxpayers
County Commissioners – District 2
Gregg Jones – Top 3 issues: 1) build schools, 2) broadband, 3) plan future projects
Richard Lightner – Top 3 issues: 1) safety, 2) education, 3) economic growth and budgets
Danny Reitmeier – Top 3 issues: 1) good employment for citizens, 2) public safety, 3) education and investing in youth
Gary Shields – Top 3 issues: 1) broadband, 2) workforce, 3) FHS project
Danny Antoine – Top 3 issues: 1) drugs, 2) lack of assets for children and teens, 3) teaching youth how to contribute to society
Sheriff
In profiles submitted to the Press, the sheriff candidates identified their top issues facing law enforcement. Full interviews with the candidates were published in the May 4 edition of the Press.
Bob Cook – Top issues: drugs, patrol coverage, perception of “good old boys” running the county and lack of trust by the citizens
Brent Holbrooks – Top issues: drugs and advocating for youth
Dereck E. Jones – Top issues: drugs, community relations/partnerships, training in specific areas
Chris Browning – Top issues: drug epidemic, providing help for addicts, providing more patrol coverage
Clay Bryson – Top issues: drugs and seeking funding for mental health resources and substance abuse treatment.
Clerk of Superior Court
Three Republicans are vying for the Clerk of Superior Court seat. They winner of the primary will face Democratic challenger Dinah Mashburn in the November General Election. The three Republican candidates are Shawna Thun Lamb, Justin Stamey and Michael (Mike) Trammel. They’re profiles are published in the May 11 edition of The Franklin Press.