LGBT candidates look to build on last year’s successes
Hoping to build on the momentum of a successful off-year election cycle, even amid violent threats, members of Western North Carolina’s LGBTQ+ community are wary of what might happen in the General Election and are calling for the codification of rights already enjoyed by other Americans.
Swain County to vote on alcohol sales
Swain County Board of Commissioners added a referendum to November ballots that will allow residents to vote on the on-premises or off-premises sale of beer and wine.
Weatherman, Boliek advance in Republican runoffs
The final two candidates for North Carolina’s Council of State have been chosen by voters after a May 14 runoff election that saw very light turnout — even by runoff standards.
Balancing act: Robinson, Stein offer competing visions of the future in North Carolina
They couldn’t be more different. But it’s not about race, religion or party affiliation.
Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, and Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, a Republican, present strikingly different views not only on their priorities if elected governor but also on the 30,000-foot view of what North Carolina is and will be.
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.
