Republican runoff elections nearing
The Primary Election season isn’t quite over in North Carolina, as several races didn’t meet the 30% vote threshold to deliver outright wins to top finishers. In The Smoky Mountain News coverage area across Western North Carolina, voters have two Republican runoffs to watch — Hal Weatherman and Jim O’Neill for the lieutenant governor position currently held by Republican Mark Robinson, and Jack Clark and Dave Boliek for the state auditor position currently held by Democrat Jessica Holmes, who was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper after fellow Democrat Beth Wood resigned in 2023.
New commissioner for Macon
The Macon County Commission will see one new member seated in December after Barry Breeden beat incumbent Paul Higdon to represent district three.
Time to abolish Electoral College
To the Editor:
In this country we don’t vote for a president. There is an intermediary called an elector whom we vote for when we vote for a presidential candidate. This might seem like a technicality, but it’s not.
District Court judge one step closer to moving up to Superior Court
Attorneys in Western North Carolina now know who will likely hold the farthest west superior court seat.
Jackson County appoints new board of elections director
The Jackson County Board of Elections announced the appointment of Amanda Allen as the new director of elections effective Feb. 26. The vote to appoint Allen was a unanimous decision of the Board.
Electoral College’s value is underestimated
In this election year of 2024 I want to discuss two controversial topics: the Electoral College and two-senators-per-state rule.
Filling the vacancy: Unique process plays out to replace retiring Superior Court judge
When Superior Court Judge William Coward announced his retirement late last year, it caught many in the Western North Carolina legal community off guard and set in motion a process with little precedent.
Two Republicans vie for new district court seat
For the first time in almost two decades, Western North Carolina is getting a new district court judge, and with no one from any other parties running the contest will be decided by the March 5 Republican Primary.
In-person early voting continues through March 2
North Carolina’s 13-day early voting period, where voters can appear at local polling places to cast their votes in person, is underway and will continue through Saturday, March 2.
Swain commission primary nears; lone unaffiliated candidate seeks spot on ballot
Two seats are open on the Swain County Board of Commissioners in 2024, and while three Republicans squaring off in the Primary Election are probably treating this like a General Election since no Democrats filed, one unaffiliated candidate is trying to muster enough support to appear on the November General Election ballot.
