Early voting for the General Election begins on Thursday, Oct. 20 and will continue through Nov. 5. Voting will be held at the Community Building in Franklin and the Highlands Civic Center. Hours will be 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays (Oct. 22, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5).
If you missed the Oct. 14 voter registration deadline, same day registration will be available during early voting. Nov. 1 is the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail. Completed absentee by mail ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections by Election Day, Nov. 8.
For more information, contact the Macon County Board of Elections at 828-349-2034 or maconnc.org/board-of-elections.
School board races
Two seats are open on the Macon County Board of Education. There will be a new representative for District 2 on the board as longtime school board member Tommy Cabe passed away in September. Cabe had filed for re-election and his name will be on the ballot. Running for that seat are Billy Handley, Stephanie Hyder Laseter and Danny Reitmeier.
Incumbent Carol Arnold is running to retain the District 4 at-large seat. She will face challenger Diedre Kaye Breeden.
During the next term, school board members will likely start construction on a new Franklin High School while continuing to address the long list of capital requests from the school system’s 11 campuses. School safety, mental health, advocating for teachers and preparing students for life beyond school are also priorities for candidates.
Each candidate was asked to submit a candidate profile answering three questions: Why are you running? What are the top three issues in the county (as they pertain to schools)? What do you want voters to know about you? Their responses to those questions are in italics below. Each candidate also sat for an in-person interview with The Franklin Press. The candidates are listed below in the order they will appear on the ballot.
District 2
Billy Handley
Why are you running?
I have wanted to do something to give back to my community for several years now. I thought this position would be a great place to start since I have many friends who are teachers and I have listened to them about things they would like to have changed and improved upon. Also, having two children go through the Macon County School system through several facilities that are way past due on being updated. I also love the youth of Macon County and want the best for the students, teachers and staff of Macon County.
Handley, who is the general manager at Tastinger Floor Covering, has coached youth sports off and on for the past 30 years. He said as he travels to other counties he is often disappointed to see what other counties have that we don’t. “I never have understood why Macon County is so far behind,” he said. “This is not something we can tolerate any longer.”
Top 3 issues:
1. A new Franklin High School.
2. Staffing shortages (teachers, substitutes, bus drivers, staff, etc.)
3. Underpaid teachers and staff.
FHS project
Handley said he likes what he has seen so far for the proposed FHS campus and that the plan uses all the available space of the current location.
“It’s time to put a school somewhere,” he said. “I would vote yes for pretty much anything as long as it has everything our kids need. I’m not into cutting corners. We have one shot here for the next 50-60 years. It needs to be right.”
As a former Panther football player, youth coach and parent of a current Panther football player, he understands the concerns about the field, the track and stadium. But he also wants to make sure there is enough space for other sports and activities.
Handley said while he hates raising taxes, he supports the proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase to support the schools’ capital projects. He added that he wished the ballot said specifically that the money goes to the schools. (On the ballot, voters will have the option to mark if they are “For” or “Against” a local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent [0.25%] in addition to all other state and local sales and use taxes.)
In addition to the FHS project in the next few years, there are other projects at other schools, such as Highlands and Nantahala that will need to be addressed. Handley said he would like to see a 10-15- 20-year plan for the schools.
He wants to learn how other counties are getting money for new facilities. “That’s going to be one of the first things I do,” he said. “I want to figure out how we get money or are we holding too much money over (in the fund balance)?”
Staffing shortages and teacher pay
Handley said the school system will continue to lose more and more teachers if salaries are not improved. “Teachers are underpaid. A lot of them have extra jobs,” he said.
He said there also should be adequate funding for the supplies teachers need rather than asking them to pay-out-of-pocket for classroom materials.
“They’re taking care of our future,” he said. “Their job is to go and teach, and now we’re asking them to buy supplies.”
He said everyone, including teachers, needs time to decompress, and teachers should be able to take time off without having to worry about finding a substitute.
He suggested having two or three full-time substitutes at each school that would fill in as needed on days teachers are out. If there are days when all teachers are at school, those substitutes could help with other tasks in the classrooms or office.
In regard to the school bus driver shortage, he remembers when he was in school that older high school students drove buses. He wants to look at what the current rules are and see if students could help fill some of those vacancies, which would also give the student work experience. “I believe our kids can handle this,” he said.
School safety
“Local law enforcement has done a fantastic job of doing the best they can with what they have,” Handley said. He said as the population grows there will be a need for more security, but School Resource Officers and cameras means more money.
“We have to prioritize this. Schools have to be protected,” he said. “All it takes is one sick individual to destroy the lives of thousands of people.”
Handley said drugs are another safety consideration for students. “How do we keep our kids away from the drugs coming in?” he asked. “We’re a little town, but we’re a little town absolutely eat up with it (drugs).”
He would like to see more in-class instruction with the SROs and showing kids real-life examples of what happens when you use drugs. He suggested having recovered drug users share their stories with students.
Preparing students for the future
Handley predicts there will be a big change in the next 5-10 years as enrollment in 4-year colleges and universities declines and tech school enrollment increases.
He would like to see more programs that students start as freshmen and continue through their senior year that will prepare them for a job. “We need way more of that,” he said.
He said students should be given the opportunities to see what jobs are available and gain real experience in the field. He said it should also be stressed that you don’t need a four-year degree to get a good job, that trades such as plumbing, electrical work and auto mechanics are good jobs that make good money. As an example, in his own trade he said carpet layers will be a thing of the past in 10 years if new people aren’t trained.
“I believe that’s how we get the workforce back to where it should be,” he said. “Trade schools should be a priority.”
He said the high school’s agriculture program must also continue to be a part of students’ education. “Without them (farmers) we would have nothing,” he said. “I would love to see that increased – a place where they can learn about crops and all the things we need to sustain life.”
He said it’s important that kids receive an education that will allow them to work here and not have to move away.
What do you want voters to know about you?
I would love to be able to listen and figure out problems with teachers, staff and administrators so they may voice their concerns and/or needs. Also, would love to have an open dialogue with parents, guardians or any concerned citizen of Macon County about students.
Handley said with his experience working with youth over the years he feels he can help the students, the schools and support the teachers and staff.
“I can be that guy that asks the uncomfortable questions,” he said. “I want answers to questions.” As an example, he said we are talking about a high school that should have been built 20 years ago. “We have to be better caretakers of our children and find the way to do that.”
And, he said just as importantly, he is a good listener. “If you don’t listen, you don’t really hear what is being said.”
He said whether he or someone else is elected he would like to see school board members and other county leaders working together more “to make sure our kids are taken can of.”
Stephanie Hyder Laseter
Why are you running?
I’ve been attending school board meetings the past few years, working to understand the complexities of the school budget, and helping advocate for increased parent engagement. The school board needs leaders ready to maximize opportunities for our children. I’m ready and committed to listening, to doing my homework and come prepared.
Laseter has been volunteering since her children, ages 16 and 13, started school. Over the years she saw many times parents were not informed about things going on in the schools, whether it be upcoming events and activities or budget items that would impact their schools.
About five years ago she started working to try to improve communication with parents and sharing information people needed to make informed decisions. She and Molly Phillips co-founded Macon County S.O.S (Support Our Schools), as a way to open discussion.
“I think the school board has a role to help you be informed,” she said.
Top 3 issues:
1. The quarter-of-a-cent sales tax. It provides the biggest revenue boost with the least impact to residents. It’s simply a no-brainer. It could result in revenue gain across all public infrastructure- schools, public safety, law enforcement, and public health.
2. The school board needs leaders who are ready to help identify, plan and execute opportunities that will benefit both our students and community. Growth is inevitable, but we can be strategic in how we grow. School infrastructure needs our attention. The last few years brought unprecedented challenges. It’s time to be innovative, creative and to provide teaching and learning environments that match 21st century technology.
3. Food insecurity. Students need a learning environment that feeds the brain, but they also need a full belly at breakfast and lunch. Happy belly = happy brain. Schools and nonprofits are doing great things, but the gap in after-school opportunities is a challenge we should meet.
Laseter said she saw some “heart-breaking” lunch boxes while volunteering in the schools.
She would like to see a way to equalize and normalize getting help. “You don’t want to be the kid that takes the backpack (of food) home,” she said, referring to the program that sends food home with children over the weekend. “We need to put thought into finding a way to help without drawing attention to or isolating someone.”
FHS project
Laseter said the school system must continue to upgrade its facilities, just like families must update their homes over time. She said it is time to invest in Franklin High School, adding kids are probably sitting in the same chairs she sat in when she attended in 1991.
“I’m a huge proponent of the ¼ cent sales tax,” she said. “That’s the best way to cover that expense.”
She pointed out that if the sales tax referendum does not pass, an ad valorem tax increase would have a much greater impact on property owners.
She also supports keeping the school at its current location. “Taking the high school out of downtown makes no sense,” she said.
When it comes to other capital needs within the school system, she thinks it would be better to meet throughout the year rather than concentrating so much on the budget sessions. “We can find a better path forward.”
She acknowledged that some of the items on the annual capital request list must get done, but people don’t necessarily see them – such as installing insulation, replacing windows, or repairing boilers, etc.
“I am proud of the work the county has done at Macon Middle School,” she said. “It physically feels better.” She said students, teachers and staff will feel better and function better when they are in a renovated space with upgrades.
Learning spaces
She said it’s important to find common ground and work with others on prioritizing the needs while also providing upgrades that boost students’ curriculum such as technology and lab equipment.
She suggested networking with colleges to help update technology and equipment. She said it is unfair to the students if we are not preparing students with the latest skills and knowledge.
“We can do better than that,” said Laseter, who is a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service. “We had better, and I want the same for my kids.”
She said older students feel the lack of investment in their schools and it influences their work ethic and their willingness to be there. Teens want freedom while also needing structure, and younger kids expect their environment to be fun. Whatever age the student, she said the school system should be providing learning environments that make students want to be there.
She said it’s also important to provide continuing education opportunities for teachers. “Instead of always spending money on ‘something,’ it may be spending money on people, so they can go and learn from their peers.”
She encourages going to other places to see how things are done and get new ideas. She said those types of opportunities can force us outside our comfort zone or come home thinking, “Man, we’re doing awesome.”
Preparing students for the future
Laseter would like students to get exposure to basic life skills in the classroom – things like how to interview for a job, how to write a resume, how to write a paragraph, speaking in public, and how to shake someone’s hand while making eye contact.
Mentors can help students, especially those who don’t have a lot of support at home, to learn not only academic lessons but the skills they will need once they graduate.
Laseter said the county also needs more after-school activities for children who are not involved in sports. She would like to see a place where kids go hang out and work on homework; a fun place that is still safe and structured.
School safety
Laseter said the school system has done a good job of addressing the safety issues at the schools, such as reducing entry points and making entrances safe.
Just as important she said is looking at the root of the problem. Trying to figure out why young people, especially boys, are resorting to violence.
“We can do a lot to make sure kids are loved and heard.”
What do you want voters to know about you?
Born and raised in Franklin, I’m a proud FHS graduate. We have two children, Reid (7th grade) and Laurel (10th grade). I’ve been active in local sports and PTO and see first-hand the challenges that our schools are facing. I love this community. I’m excited about the opportunities we have in front of us.
Laseter said she is willing to do her homework to better understand the issues and will work with other county leaders to solve problems.
Danny Reitmeier
Why are you running?
Our students deserve the best education and chance to succeed in life. I have a strong desire to preserve and improve the quality of our school system. All our citizens deserve someone to truly listen to them, be transparent and speak on their behalf. I would be that voice.
“I love to serve,” Reitmeier said. “I’ve always had a heart for kids. What a better way to give back.”
Top 3 issues:
It’s impossible to narrow it down to three top issues in our school system. However, with that being said, here are three important issues.
1. Best education. We have to be proactive when it comes to the education of our children and investing in our youth. These children are our future! We must do all we can to provide them with the absolute best education … buildings, good teachers, resources, good meals.
2. Budget/Mental Health. This money is not ours; it is our citizens’. We must be very cautious, transparent and wise with how we use it. We must discuss all expenses thoroughly before acting on them. There has been a noticeable rise in mental health issues/concerns. We need to do all we can to provide for those that need help.
3. Safety and security. There are too many school shootings and other dangerous events in our country. We need to be sure that we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of our students and everyone else on our school campuses.
FHS project
Reitmeier said he shudders at the thought of how much money the new school will cost, and that the cost has increased over time because the county waited so long to build a new school. But he realizes it was not a decision that could be made overnight and people spent a lot of time in the decision-making process.
He said he likes the plan as it has been presented so far and that building the school with multi-levels allows room for expansion in the future. He also supports keeping the school at its present site, adding the county would still have to do something with the existing buildings if the school moved to another location.
“To me that is your calling card,” he said, adding that having a state-of-the-art high school right downtown would be attractive to potential new businesses. “It’s an investment in our county and our future.”
He said the benefit of the proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase is the everyone, including visitors, would be paying it and not just the property owners.
“Most surrounding counties have it and have benefitted from it greatly,” he said.
Reitmeier said he would like the money clearly earmarked for education and listed as a separate line item in the budget so taxpayers can see how much money is coming in and how it is being spent. “So everybody can see, ‘There’s my money,’” he said.
While the high school is the current big-ticket item, there are other needs in the school system such as the expansion at the Highlands School.
“I’m not about raising taxes, but we have to prioritize these things,” Reitmeier said, adding that through research and talking to people he wants to find more revenue sources. “I’m convinced there is money we haven’t tapped into before.”
He said when it comes to the budget, he is frugal with his own money and will not waste taxpayers’ money.
“We have to prioritize what has to happen,” he said.
Safety and mental health
“We want to let them know they are in a safe environment,” Reitmeier said. “When it comes to the physical security of our campuses, we must be proactive rather than reactive.
He said Franklin High School may be the most vulnerable campus, but many of those issues will be solved with the construction of the new school.
He would like to see the SROs more active and involved in the schools and said the bigger campuses might need two officers. He realizes that means more money in the budget. “What price do you put on faces?” he said.
While visiting with teachers and administrators at the schools, Reitmeier said almost all have mentioned mental health and a need for mental health professionals.
He said even students must deal with the divisive world we are living in and they have to deal too much with picking a side. “That makes for a tough learning and working environment,” he said.
He said an effort needs to be made to help students feel comfortable with who they are and understand that everyone is important. “We can help give them that confidence that they might not be getting in the world.”
Preparing students for the future
Reitmeier said he is “very much for life skills training in high school.” He said students need to learn basic skills such as how to cook and how to do their laundry. He wants to continue what is currently offered and expand to include more lessons that will help students in their everyday lives. “Let’s teach them how to get out in the world,” he said.
He said the agriculture program is critical. “You can’t put a price tag on the farmers in our country. Without farmers we don’t eat,” he said, adding that learning to grow food is another essential skill students could learn. “Even if they don’t do it for a living, they might grow their own food at their home.”
What do you want voters to know about you?
Our students, faculty, support staff, administrators and citizens deserve someone who will be a strong advocate for them. Someone who is approachable and that will listen and be a transparent, tireless worker for them. I will be that person.
“My passion for this is off the charts,” Reitmeier said. “No one is going to out-work me. I will be tireless going to schools and talking to administrators, teachers and students. I’m approachable. I will listen to you anytime.”
District 4
Carol Arnold
Why are you running?
As a proponent of a new high school, Fred Goldsmith left me with the responsibility to see it completed. I have worked diligently to this end. I would like to see academics promoted in all areas, parental involvement, safe schools and pre-K classrooms throughout Macon County.
Arnold retired with 41 years of experience in education, 11 as a teacher and 30 as an administrator. She was elected to the Board of Education in 1998 and served a four-year term from 1998-2002. She was appointed to fill Fred Goldsmith’s term after he resigned from the board in 2020. She said it is important for someone on the board be a licensed educator.
“I am very proud of our school system,” she said. “We put children first – the children are our future.”
Top 3 issues:
1. Safety for all students
2. New high school and Pre-K classrooms
3. Updated technology within curriculum for all schools.
The safety of students in schools should always be a top priority; not just buildings and grounds, but to seek advice from Resource Officers, Health Department officials and state policy.
Franklin High School was built in 1953. It’s time for modern classrooms with current technology as well as a vocational department with modern equipment. As the county is responsible for buildings and grounds, the pursuance of grants and other monetary funds could be explored without taxation. In my tenure as grant writer, I received over $1.5 million for the various programs that I was responsible for in Macon County.
New studies indicate advantages for students who have been able to participate in Pre-K programs. Macon County should take advantage to promote this idea for Pre-K students. Parental involvement is essential for these programs to be instituted.
FHS project
Arnold said during her career she helped build three schools. “I know how to do that.”
She said when FHS was built it fulfilled the needs at the time. “We’re in a new age today,” she said. Students need access to equipment, modern technology, state-of-the art classrooms, post-school programs such as automotive and healthcare.
“We need to prepare our kids for the future, and we need to do it in a safe environment. Franklin High School is not that – I don’t think it’s safe.”
By comparison, she said when you go to Iotla and South Macon those schools feel good.
She said it’s also important to look at the ADA requirements and the challenges of the current FHS campus. Children with disabilities need to have access not only to the academic areas but activities and campus events.
“This high school is critical,” she said.
She supports the proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase. “I want to keep that money in Macon County,” she said. “I want to keep what we generate here for our children.”
She said everybody, including board members and school personnel, participates in the process of prioritizing the capital needs of the schools each year. She feels Superintendent Chris Baldwin brings a good perspective to the process because while he is the lead administrator now, he also worked as a principal for many years.
“You have to understand the full picture of Pre-K through 12th grade. Everybody is part of that big picture.”
She said the maintenance department works hard and does a good job keeping up the schools.
“I’ve never seen a time when something was broken or a high-priority need that it wasn’t addressed.”
School safety
“Safety is paramount for schools,” Arnold said, adding that children should be able to go to school each day without fear.
“Administrators, principals and teachers work hard to make sure kids come to school safe and leave safe. Safety is a #1 priority,” she said.
She said parental involvement is important in all aspects of a child’s education, including school safety. “Parents are the foundation of schools.”
She said the school system has a good relationship with local law enforcement.
“We are truly partners,” she said. “Schools are #1 on their priority list too. I can’t applaud them enough. Parents want the same thing too.”
Pre-K
In addition to the new high school, she wants to see more Pre-K options available. “We should be able to offer Pre-K for any child that wants to come,” she said, adding that her time as the exceptional children director and federal programs director gives her an understanding of the needs for exceptional children.
“All kids play, and all kids enjoy being kids,” she said. When she taught Pre-K she told parents that when they asked their kids how their day was she wanted the kids to be able to say they had a great day and they got to play.
Through Pre-K she said kids learn to play together, learn what school is about, ride the bus, go to the cafeteria, and that makes the transition to kindergarten much easier. “When they go to kindergarten, they are so ready,” she said.
She said a pre-K experience can lead to better test scores, less discipline issues and happier families. “That’s the best of all worlds,” she said.
“Pre-K has been the foundation of Macon County Schools, and I want to continue that.”
Preparing students for the future
Arnold said technology is the pathway to knowledge and through technology the school system can offer students experiences they might not have had in the past.
“We’re a technological society now,” she said. “I grew up on Burningtown where the greatest thing was the party (telephone) line.”
She considers parents “working partners” and says that working together, teachers and parents can plan and find the correct curriculum and provide opportunities for students based on their interests. She said the kids must be involved in the process. “They’re the center.”
She would like to see more programs developed that meet the requirements of different trades and create a career path for students. She said it is important that the school system stay abreast of the current trends, programs and opportunities for graduating students.
“I want every child to be what they want to be,” she said, adding that she encourages students to do the best they can and to take pride in what they do.
What do you want voters to know about you?
As a team, my husband Jerry and I have spent 71 years in education. I am currently a licensed teacher/administrator. I understand trends and policies, local and state, that are critical in making educational decisions. Always a proponent of parental involvement, I invite parent participation and feel their involvement is vital to the school.
“I am the most qualified person to do this job,” Arnold said. “I’ve got a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area and the talent to do it.”
She said she wants to continue working with teachers, parents and administrators to give children the best public education possible. Ultimately, she wants to see students become productive members of society and give back what was given to them.
Diedre Breeden
Why are you running?
I want to make a difference for our community, and I have insight and experience from my career that would
allow me to bring a needed perspective to the board for the benefit of our students and their families.
Breeden said running for office was a calling for her. “I believe I can make a difference,” she said. “I want to serve.”
She said her career experience as a counselor can bring a different insight to the board, especially in today’s world. “I have a lot of experience with children, and I have three children,” she said.
Top 3 issues:
Mental health is huge. Over the last few years, we have seen a significant rise in mental and behavioral health issues within our students and families. Every school in our county has expressed to me the need for adequate mental health support within the school system.
We also have some significant infrastructure needs across the county, like the new Franklin High School, for example, which need to continue to be a priority.
Above all, the ongoing need to prioritize student success, which encompasses so much: protecting the learning environment, supporting teachers, promoting parent involvement and a continued emphasis on growth of opportunities for our future.
Mental health
Breeden said in visiting the schools, teachers and administrators have all mentioned concerns about mental health resources. While most of the schools hired extra mental health support with their COVID recovery funds, she wants to look forward to what happens once that money is spent. She wants to consider how the schools will maintain those resources, which help students as well as teachers.
As a mental health professional, she also sees the importance of support for the mental health specialists. “They need training to effectively give students the help they need,” she said.
FHS project
“We need a new high school; we needed one when I graduated in 2000,” Breeden said.
She said it is important that the community at large ask questions about the new school, and she wants to make sure there is a vision for adequate growth as plans move forward.
She said the quarter-cent sales tax is a good way to bring in income for the high school project as well as other capital needs in the coming years.
Breeden said student needs must be taken into account when prioritizing spending on capital projects and programs in the schools. “Our students come first,” she said.
School safety
Breeden said there is always room for improvement when it comes to school safety, and it is something the school system must continue to work on. As an example, she mentioned Nantahala School does not have a fence around the property and with it being adjacent to the library, people could easily enter the campus.
Student success
Breeden said students need to have opportunities to learn and be successful. She wants to make sure the school counselors have the resources they need to guide students toward areas that interest them.
She also suggested surveying the students to find out what their interests are in order to better meet the needs of the students.
She says students often feel pressure to make decisions and how to live up to certain standards. She feels they are missing balance in their lives. She wants to make sure that in addition to academic opportunities students can experience the other things that are important to them such as arts, music, sports and other activities.
She would like to see better communication between the state and local school systems about the emphasis put on testing requirements. She has posted an EducationNC survey on her Facebook page that gives parents and community members an opportunity to weigh in on how the state views and uses testing and performance grades.
Breeden said parental involvement is important to student success, and she wants to make sure parents have the opportunity to be involved in what is going on with their child’s education. “I want to be an encourager,” she said.
What do you want voters to know about you?
I am a parent of three, connected with and invested in the dynamics of our community and have a passion to serve people. I will always do my best to listen, that is my career after all, and I am passionate about bringing change wherever needed and seeing our county thrive.
“I will always do my best to help our students, that’s what this is about,” she said.
Next week’s edition of The Franklin Press will include interviews with State Senate candidates Kevin Corbin and Karen Burnette McCracken.