Candidates across Western North Carolina have begun filing for the 2025 municipal elections, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4. 

Last week, The Smoky Mountain News conducted a survey across its four-county core coverage area to determine who plans to run again, and who doesn’t.

Many incumbents responded, some didn’t.

Now that the filing period is open, the picture is becoming clearer as officeholders and first-time candidates alike travel to their local boards of elections to fill out the paperwork that will put their names on ballots across the region.

Information in this report was current as of noon on Tuesday, July 8, and reflects candidate lists provided by the North Carolina Board of Elections. To see updated lists in real time, visit ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists#current.

In-person early voting begins on Oct. 16. As of July 8, Election Day is only 119 days away.

The final day to file to run in the 2025 municipal elections is Friday, July 18, by noon.

HAYWOOD COUNTY

In Clyde, two seats on the Board of Alderman are up for reelection. Aldermen Frank Lay confirmed he’ll run again while Alderman Diane Fore didn’t respond to messages asking if she’ll run again. No candidates have yet filed.

In Maggie Valley, Aldermen Jim Owens and John Hinton have both filed for reelection to their seats. No other candidates have yet emerged.

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 this year. Freeman and Sutton both said they plan to seek reelection. Sutton is the only candidate to file thus far.

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers has filed for his third term as mayor, and Alderman Tim Shepard has filed to keep his seat as well. Alderwoman Kristina Proctor also said she would run again, but hasn’t yet filed.

JACKSON COUNTY

In the Town of Sylva, longtime Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh said she was stepping back after 12 years of service. Commissioner Joe Waldrum said he was undecided about running again, while Commissioner Jon Brown said he does have plans to run. No one has filed except Mayor Johnnie Phillips.

In the Village of Forest Hills, three seats are up for election. Mayor Marcia Almond said she will seek another term, as will Council Member Daniel Shields, who serves as mayor pro tem. Robert Kehrberg, who stepped in to fill a vacancy on Council, will not seek to hold the seat this fall. No one’s filed yet.

Webster Mayor Tracy Rodes is done after 10 years of service, but Commissioner Danell Moses said she’s running to retain her own seat. No response has been received from Commissioner Leigh Anne Young. Contact info for Commissioner Dale Collins was not available. Thus far, the only person to file for a seat on the commission is Sarah Stallman

Dillsboro is unique in that it still doesn’t have staggered terms — meaning the mayor and all five aldermen are up for reelection this year. Mayor Tim Parris and aldermen Keith Clark, David Gates and John Miele will all try to hold their seats. Fellow incumbents Jim Cochran and Gladys Pilarski have not responded. Miele and Cochran have filed.

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 three seats in the remote mountain enclave. Mayor Patrick Taylor told SMN he’s undecided, while commissioners Amy Patterson and Eric Pierson have not responded regarding their intentions. No one has filed.

MACON COUNTY

Franklin Mayor Jack Horton will not seek another term, opening up an opportunity for Council Member Stacy Guffey — or someone else — to succeed Horton. Guffey filed on July 7.

Guffey’s move opens up his Town Council seat, and along with the departure of David Culpepper, who will not seek reelection, the board will see some changes come November whether Guffey wins or not. Council Member Rita Salain is in, as are newcomers Jeff Berry and Travis Higdon.

SWAIN COUNTY

Bryson City Alderman Tim Hines has said he’s running again, while Alderman Ben King remains undecided. No one has filed.

For more information on running for office, registering to vote or voting, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections at ncsbe.gov.

Want to run for office?

The candidate filing period for the 2025 municipal elections begins at the opening of business on Monday, July 7, 2025, and ends at noon on Friday, July 18, 2025. Candidates must file for election at their local county board of elections office. Learn more about running for office, qualifications and other requirements by visiting ncsbe.gov.