Archived News

Swain incumbents retain commissioner seats

Swain incumbents retain commissioner seats

Two incumbents will claim their second terms on the Swain County Board of Commissioners after being the top vote-getters out of four candidates. 

Republican Kenneth Parton had the most support with 3,415 votes (28.5 percent), while Democrat Roger Parton was the second voter-getter with 3,018 votes (25 percent). 

“I hope the voters put their trust in me and know me to be someone who works for Swain County and for no other reason but to do my best for the people,” Parton said. “I’m looking forward to working on some issues we’ve already taken up — move on the animal ordinance and trying to figure out new library plans and working on trying to continue to move Swain County forward.”

Parsons first joined the board in 2017 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Commissioner David Monteith. He then successfully ran to complete the remaining two years of Monteith’s term on the board in fall 2018. Parsons previously served on the Swain County School Board for 16 years. 

Parton was the top vote-getter when he was elected to his first term in 2016 with over 28 percent of the vote. He ran on the promise of making sure county money was spent wisely and distributed to all parts of the county. He was able to unseat Democrat incumbent Steve Moon. 

Democrat candidate Phillip Carson was hoping to rejoin the board after losing his re-election to chairman in 2018 to follow Democrat Ben Bushyhead. However, Carson came in third with 2,782 votes (23 percent). 

  1. Robert Lowe, a 28-year-old Republican running for public office for the first time, came in fourth place with 2,654 votes (22.18 percent).

Turnout in Swain County was strong with 70 percent of registered voters — 7,080 out of 10,088 — casting a ballot. During the 2016 election, Swain’s voter turnout was at about 59 percent. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.