Three compete for House seat
Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, has announced her intentions to run for a third term, but two Democrats have stepped up to challenge her for the chance to represent the 118th District of North Carolina.
Rhonda Cole Schandevel, a Haywood County School Board member, announced earlier this month she would make a run for the district, which includes Madison, Yancey and parts of Haywood County. The Canton resident has served on the school board since 2012 and is a registered dental hygienist at Smoky Mountain Dentistry.
Madison County resident Reese Steen announced his candidacy last week. Steen is a former three-term Madison County commissioner and has worked as a dentist in the district for more than 40 years.
The General Assembly moved the primary election from May to March, so Schandevel and Steen will square off for the Democratic nomination on March 15, 2016, unless another candidate enters the race. The official filing period to run for state office is from Dec. 1 to Dec. 21.
In a press release announcing her third run, Presnell cited her experience as a small business owner and a former Yancey County commissioner. She described herself as a pro-life advocate, a conservative lifelong Republican and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association with a concealed carry permit.
Schandevel and Steen both say one of their top priorities is public education. They both expressed concern about the continuing cuts that are impacting the classroom.
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“I believe our schools are full of amazing teachers that continue to fight for our kids,” Schandevel said in a press release. “Now is the time to start paying them like the professionals they are and give them the resources they need to properly educate our students.”
Steen said he believes education should become a top priority for North Carolina again. When he was a county commissioner in 1986, he said the state was dead last in education and he doesn’t want to see that happen again.
“In the past, North Carolina stood out as a leader and innovator in public education,” he said. “However, in the past four years we have seen defunding and a downward spiral of financial support for education. Ensuring that our children in the mountains have access to great public schools should not be a partisan issue.”
Steen said he and Schandevel’s agendas probably weren’t too far apart — they’re goals are funding public education and improving the economy. Steen said he isn’t so much focused on the primary as he is the general election. He said he believes he has the voter support in Madison and Yancey and will work hard to campaign in Haywood County as well.
“I’m looking at the general election, and I think I can beat Michele Presnell,” he said. “It’s going to take a super effort to unseat Presnell.”
