Municipal candidate filing period ends on Friday
Candidates across Western North Carolina have begun filing for the 2025 municipal elections, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, but there are still a few days left until the lists become final.
Last month, 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.
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 15, 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.
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HAYWOOD COUNTY
In Clyde, two seats on the Board of Alderman are up for reelection. Alderman Frank Lay confirmed he’ll run again while Alderman Diane Fore didn’t respond to messages asking if she’ll run again. Neither have yet filed, however Kathy Cogburn Johnson, who ran last time, has.
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 and Alderwoman Kristina Proctor have both filed to keep their seats as well.
JACKSON COUNTY
In the Town of Sylva, longtime Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh said she was stepping back after 12 years of service. Commissioner Joe Waldrum has filed for reelection, as has Commissioner Jon Brown. Two others, Brooklyn Joan Brownie and Sarah Hirsch, have also filed for commission seats. No one has yet filed for mayor except Mayor Johnnie Phillips.
In the Village of Forest Hills, three seats are up for election. Mayor Marcia Almond and Council Member Daniel Shields, who serves as mayor pro tem, have both filed. Robert Kehrberg, who stepped in to fill a vacancy on Council, will not seek to hold the seat this fall. Planning Board member Amy Bollinger has also filed for Council.
Webster Mayor Tracy Rodes is done after 10 years of service, but Commissioner Leigh Ann Young has filed to replace Rodes. Danell Moses said she’s running to retain her own seat but hasn’t yet filed. Contact info for Commissioner Dale Collins was not available, and Collins hasn’t filed. Sarah Stallman and Daniel Riggs are also seeking seats on commission.
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 did not respond, but Cochran, Gates and Miele have all 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 and Commissioners Amy Patterson have both filed, but Eric Pierson did not respond and has not 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, Tim Cook and Travis Higdon.
SWAIN COUNTY
Bryson City Alderman Tim Hines has said he’s running again, while Alderman Ben King remains undecided. Neither have filed, but W. Kent Maxey has.
For more information on running for office, registering to vote or voting, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections at ncsbe.gov.
