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School board seats will be decided in Tuesday’s voting
By Carey Phillips
Jackson County voters will elect two school board members when they go to the polls Tuesday, July 20.
While the election is a primary for all other offices, it will serve as the general election for the non-partisan school board seats.
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Candidates for the District 1 school board seat are Mark Brooks, Jarrett Crowe, Jim Hartbarger and Barbara Jones.
The District 3 candidates are Jay Coward and Thurza McNair.
Incumbents Mary Jane Dillard and James Roper are not seeking re-election.
While voting for school board members is countywide, candidates must run in the district in which they reside.
Two non-partisan judicial races are on the ballot. In District 30, District Court Judge Monica Leslie is opposed by Sybil Mann and Rusty McLean. Leslie was recently appointed to the seat following the resignation of John Snow.
The other judicial race is for a seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals. Jackson County native Alan Thornburg, who was appointed to the seat, is opposed by Barbara Jackson, Marvin Schiller and Marcus Williams.
The top two finishers in each of the judicial races will advance to November’s general election.
All registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in the non-partisan races.
In partisan contests, voters registered with a party must vote in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters may declare for a particular party on election day.
The race that has drawn the most statewide interest is the Republican primary for governor. Candidates are Patrick Ballentine, Dan Barrett, Bill Cobey, George Little, Fern Shubert and Richard Vinroot.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Mike Easley is facing a challenge from Rickey Kipfer.
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue is opposed by Curtis Hert in the Democratic primary.
The winner will meet one of three Republicans – Timothy Cook, Jim Snyder and Thomas Smith – who are all on Tuesday’s ballot.
Republicans will choose their U.S. Senate candidate from among Richard Burr, John Hendrix and Albert Wiley.
Democrats will pick either Patsy Keever or Michael Morgan as their 11th District U.S. Congressional candidate.
Democratic races for Council of State offices include:
Commissioner of agriculture – appointed incumbent Britt Cobb and Tom Gilmore; secretary of state – incumbent Elaine Marshall and Doris Sanders; superintendent of public instruction – J.B. Buxton, Marshall Stewart and June Atkinson.
Republican candidates for Council of State offices include:
Attorney general – Thom Goolsby, Joe Knott and Wendell Sawyer; auditor – Leslie Merritt and Jasper Albright; commissioner of insurance – Robert Brawley and Cindy Huntsberry; commissioner of labor – incumbent Cherie Berry and Lloyd Funderburk; superintendent of public instruction – Bill Fletcher and Jeanne Smoot.
One-stop voting at the Board of Elections office will continue through Saturday, July 17. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Absentee ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections office by 5 p.m. Monday, July 19.
Polling places are as follows:
Barkers Creek, Barkers Creek CDC Building; Canada, Canada Fire Station; Caney Fork, Caney Fork Community Building; Cashiers, Cashiers Fire Station; Cullowhee, Jackson County Recreation Center; Dillsboro, Dillsboro Town Hall; Greens Creek, Savannah Community Building; Hamburg, Glenville Community Building; Mountain, Pine Creek Community Building; Qualla, Qualla Community Building; River, VFW Post Building; Savannah, Savannah Fire Station; Scotts Creek #1, Scotts Creek School; Scotts Creek #2, Willets Community Building; Scotts Creek #3, Balsam Community Building; Sylva North, Jackson County Justice Center; Sylva South, Jackson County Community Service Center; Webster, old Webster School.
For more information, call the Board of Elections office at 586-7538.
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