Pless continues to support some ‘bad stuff’
Rep. Mark Pless, to put it bluntly, is a piece of work.
Fears of a politicized court system grow
Maybe the change was an inevitable byproduct of our charged and contentious era.
A subtle eclipse, a reminder of what we’ve lost
As Lori and I walked our dog through the roads in our subdivision this morning before sunrise, Election Day, we hoped for no fog and no clouds so we could witness the lunar eclipse. It was indeed crystal clear, the stars were out, and for most of the walk we watched as the Earth’s shadow slowly moved across the full moon near the western horizon. It’s a subtle celestial show, the darker orange/yellow slowly covering the brighter yellow/white. Otherworldly.
Supreme Court candidates navigate partisan campaigning and judicial integrity
They may be the most consequential races in North Carolina this year, yet most people don’t even know who’s running.
The Haywood partisan elections bill is dead, for now
A bill advanced by Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) to make school board and municipal elections in Haywood County partisan has fallen short, but could eventually be revived.
Waynesville resolution opposes partisan elections bill
A bill filed by Haywood County Republican Rep. Mark Pless to make all local elections partisan didn’t exactly receive a warm welcome, but now one municipality has gone on record as formally opposing it.
Partisan local elections have different outcomes
As Cory Valliancourt report s in The Smoky Mountain News, North Carolina House members Rep. Mark Pless , R-Haywood, and Rep. Mike Clampitt , R-Swain, have proposed a bill ( HB998 ) to move municipal and school board elections in Haywood County to partisan contests where each candidate’s party affiliation is listed on the ballot next to their name. HB998 is a local bill which means that the barriers to becoming law are lower. If the legislature passes the bill, it will become law without making a stopover on the governor’s desk.
Bill seeks more partisanship in Haywood County elections
A bill introduced by Haywood County’s two state House representatives would make all of the county’s municipal elections — as well as school board races — a partisan affair.
Clear trends emerge in partisan voter registration
Two years ago, The Smoky Mountain News took a look at statistical data on the party affiliation of registered voters across the state and in the seven westernmost counties, from Jan. 1, 2016 through Jan. 1, 2020. It was great news for Republicans, and the exact opposite for Democrats.
Partisanship over statesmanship, Raleigh knows best
Sorry Haywood County citizens and others in the western part of the state, the most grassroots and local ballots you cast just don’t matter. But you should be fine with that, because surely you realize that those men and women whom you voted on to your county board and school board, they just aren’t as smart and astute as your state legislators. From on high atop their lofty perches in Raleigh, Reps. Michele Presnell and Mike Clampitt know what is best.
So shut up, get in line behind these wise leaders, and we’ll make Haywood County and the rest of west great again.
