Several last-minute candidates added to election roster
Regional
Three-term incumbent Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, has a number of challengers this year, including one from his own party. Buncombe County Republican Chuck Archerd says he’s only running in case Meadows accepts a job in the Trump administration.
But Democrats Phillip Price, D-Nebo, Scott Donaldson, D-Hendersonville, and Steve Woodsmall, D-Pisgah Forest, all seek Meadows’ seat, as does Sylva Libertarian Clifton Ingram.
N.C. Senator Jim Davis, R-Franklin, will face opposition this fall from Bobby Kuppers, D-Franklin.
A pair of rematches will determine who goes on to represent the county in the General Assembly’s next session; incumbents Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, and Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, will again face Rhonda Cole Schandevel, D-Canton, and Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, respectively.
Jackson County
With election sign-ups complete, Jackson County will have at least two contenders for all local offices — except for register of deeds, with incumbent Joe Hamilton running unopposed — and three offices are on track for a primary election.
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Jackson County will have two Republican primaries and one Democratic primary. Two Republican candidates have filed to represent District 1 on the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners — incumbent Charles Elders and challenger Jarrett Crowe. Two Republicans have also filed to challenge incumbent Democratic Sheriff Chip Hall — Brent McMahan and Doug Farmer. On the Democratic side, Kim Coggins Poteet will challenge incumbent Clerk of Superior Court Ann D. Melton in the primaries.
The last 24 hours of filing saw two new candidates: Abigail Blakely Clayton will challenge incumbent Board of Education chairman Ken Henke, and Brian E. McClure will challenge incumbent Board of Education Member Ali Laird-Large. School board races are nonpartisan. Margaret M. McRae, who currently holds the third Board of Education seat up for election, will face a challenge from James Stewart-Payne.
In the General Election, County Commission Chairman Brian McMahan, a Democrat, will face a challenge from sitting Republican Commissioner Ron Mau. Former Commissioner Doug Cody, a Republican, will challenge sitting Democratic Commissioner Boyce Deitz. Democrat Gayle Woody will face the winner of the Elders-Crowe primary contest.
Haywood County
In Haywood County, seven candidates have signed up to run for three open seats on the board of commissioners. Incumbents Mike Sorrells and Kirk Kirkpatrick, both Waynesville Democrats, are running to reclaim their seats and will be challenged by Waynesville Democrat Danny Davis. Republicans Thomas Long, Steven Pless, Terry Ramey and Phillip Wight, a Maggie Valley alderman, will also vie for the seats. Incumbent Democrat Bill Upton has decided not to seek re-election.
Hunter Plemmons, who was recently appointed to the position of Clerk of Superior Court to replace June Ray, will face fellow Democrats Jim Moore and Eddie West in a primary, with no Republican challenger.
Three candidates have signed up to run for Haywood County Tax Collector — incumbent Republican Mike Matthews will face Andrew “Tubby” Ferguson, R-Waynesville, in a primary, after which one of them will face Waynesville Democrat Greg West in November.
Haywood County Register of Deeds Sherri Rogers, D-Waynesville, Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher, D-Clyde, and 43rd District Attorney Ashley Welch, R-Franklin, face no opposition at all.
Macon County
Democratic incumbent Ronnie Beale and Republican incumbent Gary Shields are both signed up to run for their District 2 seats and will face challenges from Democrat Betty Cloer Wallace and Republican Ron Haven.
Incumbent Republican Commission Chairman Jim Tate is seeking another term and will be challenged by fellow Republican John Shearl.
Sheriff Robert Holland, R-Franklin, has signed up to run and will be challenged by Democrat Eric Giles and Bryan Carpenter. Carpenter petitioned to run as an unaffiliated candidate, which means he must obtain signatures from 4 percent — or 1,018 registered voters in Macon — to be able to run against the sitting sheriff.
Republican Linda Herman will challenge incumbent Register of Deeds Todd Raby, a Democrat, and Clerk of Court Vic Perry will run unopposed.
Swain County
Three seats are up for grabs on the Swain County Board of Commissioners —Democratic incumbent commissioner Danny Burns has signed up to run for a second term.
Democrat Commissioner Roger Parsons, who was appointed last year to fill the vacancy left after the passing of Commissioner David Monteith, will officially run to fill the remainder of Monteith’s four-year term.
Republicans Kevin Seagle, Holly Bowick, Carolyn Bair and Vance Greene III, and Democrats Wayne Dover and Jack Parton, have also signed up to run for commissioner.
Democratic commissioner Ben Bushyhead, who is finishing up his first term, has signed up to run for commission chairman against incumbent chairman Phil Carson.
Swain’s incumbent Republican Sheriff Curtis Cochran will have competition this year. Democrat Rocky Sampson has signed up to run against him.
Two Democrats — Misti Jones and Deborah Smith — are running for Clerk of Court.
— Staff Reports
