Town election time: Who’s in, who’s out, who’s still in the wings
Towns across the mountains will hold elections for their mayors and town board leaders this fall. The sign up period for candidates began last week. Below is a list of who has signed up to run for office as of press time Tuesday. The candidate sign-up period runs until noon Friday, July 19.
Haywood County
• In Canton, all four seats on the town board plus mayor are up for election. Running for the town board so far are: Ralph Hamlett, Gail Mull and Zeb Smathers. No incumbents have filed yet.
• In Maggie Valley, three of the five seats are up for election. Two are currently held by Saralyn Price and Mike Matthews. The third seat is vacant, with two years left to fill, and will have its own election to fill.
Running for the town board so far are: Mike Eveland and Saralyn Price. Running for the vacant seat so far are: Charlie Meadows and Janet Banks.
• The Town of Waynesville has no elections this year.
Jackson County
• In Sylva, two of the five town board seats plus mayor are up for election. Mayor Maurice Moody is not running for re-election.
Running for the town board so far are the two incumbents: Danny Allen and Barbara Hamilton.
• In Dillsboro, all five town board seats are up plus the mayor. Running for the town board so far is: Jimmy Cabe.
• In Webster, all five town board seats plus mayor are up for election. No one has signed up to run yet.
• In the Village of Forest Hills, two of the five town board seats plus mayor are up for election. No one has signed up to run yet.
Macon County
• In Franklin, four of six town board seats plus mayor are up for election, currently held by Mayor Joe Collins, Sissy Pattillo, Billy Mashburn and Bob Scott. Mayor Collins will not run for reelection. Both Pattillo and Scott will relinquish their town board seats to make a run for mayor — leaving at least two seats up for grabs by newcomers on the town board, leading to a potentially crowded field.
Running for mayor of Franklin so far are: Sissy Pattillo and Bob Scott. No one has filed for town board yet.
• In Highlands, two of the town board seats plus mayor are up for election. Running for mayor of Franklin so far is Brian Stiehler.
Swain County
• In Bryson City, two of the five town board seats are up for election, currently held by Stephanie Treadway and Tom Reidmiller. Running for the town board so far are: Brad Walker (former mayor of Bryson City up until two years ago.)
