With the end of the municipal election filing period, candidates are now gearing up to take their message to voters as they look to claim seats on local government boards across Western North Carolina.
In The Smoky Mountain News core coverage area — Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties — 57 candidates seek 37 seats defended by 27 incumbents in 11 municipalities hosting 19 separate races from Canton to Franklin.
In six of those races, 13 candidates are completely unopposed. Barring write-in campaigns, those candidates will be sworn in later this year, after the Nov. 4 elections. Until then, the remaining 44 candidates will compete for 24 seats on 13 public bodies.
The elections will be notable this year as they’re the first since President Donald Trump returned to office, the first since Hurricane Helene dealt varying amounts of damage to small local governments and, in Jackson County, the first since Jackson County commissioners controversially voted to leave the Fontana Regional Library system over LGBTQ+ content.
Information in this report was current as of noon on Tuesday, July 22, and reflects candidate lists provided by the North Carolina Board of Elections. To see updated lists for the entire state, visit ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists#current.
In-person early voting begins on Oct. 16. As of July 22, Election Day is only 108 days away. Until then, be sure to check in with SMN for full coverage of all contested races.
HAYWOOD COUNTY
In Clyde, two seats on the Board of Alderman are up for reelection. Incumbent aldermen Frank Lay and Diane Fore both filed, as did two candidates who ran in 2023, Kathy Cogburn Johnson and Cory Nuckolls. Clyde is dealing with substantial property tax base loss due to Helene, but has tremendous opportunities for outdoor recreation and affordable housing. In 2023, it took about 80 votes to win a seat. Voters may choose any two of the four.
Waynesville’s Town Council used to be elected all at once, but the town has recently adopted a staggered system that means Julia Freeman and Anthony Sutton are up again this year after serving a one-off two-year term.
Freeman and Sutton have both filed, as has realtor Landen Stevenson. During a spirited 2023 election, top vote-getters had more than 1,400 votes, with Sutton and Freeman coming in just under 1,300. Voters may choose two of the three.
Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers has filed for his third term as mayor, and for the third time will have no opponent — a testament to the job he’s done, or perhaps a testament to how hard his job truly is; Smathers has guided the town through the Coronavirus Pandemic, Tropical Storm Fred, the closing of the century-old Pactiv Evergreen paper mill, the 185-acre mill parcel’s impending redevelopment and, of course, Helene.
Alderman Tim Shepard and Alderwoman Kristina Proctor have also been a big part of directing the town through those challenges. Both filed to keep their seats; however, they’re being opposed by towing company owner Adam Hatton, who ran in 2023, and former Canton Police Officer Neal Swanger. In 2023, winners earned 249 and 219 votes, respectively, while Hatton claimed 150. Voters may select any two of the four.
Maggie Valley incumbent aldermen Jim Owens and John Hinton have both filed for reelection to their seats but have no challengers.
JACKSON COUNTY
In the Town of Sylva, Mayor Johnny Phillips is unopposed. Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh has retired after 12 years of service, creating an open seat, and Commissioner Joe Waldrum has filed for reelection, leaving voters to pick any two candidates from a crowded field that includes Waldrum, Brooklyn Joan Brownie, Dwight D. McMahan, Taylor Horne, Samuel McGuire and Calvin Autrey, Jr. In 2023, it took a little over 200 votes to claim a seat.
But that’s not the only Sylva race generating interest. Commissioner Jon Brown is running to keep his unexpired seat (SMN had previously reported incorrectly that Brown was elected; he was in fact appointed). Brown made waves by torpedoing a proposed resolution of support for the FRL but has since expressed regret for the decision and plans to put forth another.
He’ll be opposed by Sarah Hirsch, who was outspoken during the lead-up to Jackson County commissioners voting to leave the Fontana Regional Library system, and Perry Matthews, general manager of Meatballs Pizzeria. Voters must select only one.
In the Village of Forest Hills, three seats are up for election. Mayor Marcia Almond has filed but will be challenged by former Jackson County Commissioner Ron Mau.
For Village Council, Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Shields filed, but Robert Kehrberg, who stepped in to fill a vacancy on Council, decided not to run. Planning board member Amy Bollinger has stepped up, as has James Hartley. Voters may select two of the three. Races in Forest Hills usually generate about 50 votes.
In Webster, Mayor Tracy Rodes is done after 10 years of service, but Commissioner Leigh Ann Young has filed to replace Rodes and will do so without opposition.
Three seats on Webster’s Board of Commissioners are also up for election. Incumbent Dale Collins is part of a five-person field that includes Sara Stahlman, Daniel Riggs, Susan Raaf and Brad Reisinger. In 2023, the top vote-getter received 20 votes.
Dillsboro is unique in that it still doesn’t have staggered terms, meaning the mayor and all five members of Town Council are up for reelection this year. It doesn’t, however, mean all that much — no one filed to oppose any of them, so Mayor Tim Parris will be rejoined by Council members James Cochran, John Miele, David Gates, Gladys Pilarski and Keith Clark.
There are only a handful of voters in the Jackson County side of Highlands, with most of them residing in the Macon County side. Together, they’ll decide who will fill one seat in the remote mountain enclave. Incumbent Mayor Patrick Taylor will face Paul Ordner. When Taylor was last elected, he counted 347 votes.
Commissioners Amy Patterson and Eric Pierson will retain their seats unopposed.
MACON COUNTY
Franklin Mayor Jack Horton will not seek another term, opening up an opportunity for Council member Stacy Guffey or Matthew Holland to follow Horton. In Horton’s last election, he received 89 votes.
Guffey’s move opens up his Town Council seat and along with the departure of David Culpepper, who chose not to seek reelection, the board will certainly see some changes come November.
Council Member Rita Salain is in, as are newcomers Jeff Berry, Tim Cook, Travis Higdon, Kelton Bailey, Paul Thatcher, Kore Newman and former Franklin Mayor Bob Scott. In 2023, about 90 votes was enough to claim a seat. Voters may choose any three.
SWAIN COUNTY
Incumbent Bryson City aldermen Tim Hines and Ben King have decided to give it another go, but will face opposition in the person of W. Kent Maxey. Voters may choose two and can normally expect around 60 votes to be cast.
For more information on the upcoming municipal elections, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections at ncsbe.gov.