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Jackson County voters to cast ballots Tuesday
By Carey Phillips
For the first time in more than 150 years, North Carolinians will have a chance to vote for one of their own on a national presidential ticket when they cast ballots Tuesday.
U.S. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina is the Democratic vice presidential running mate of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
They are trying to unseat the Republican team of President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Also on the ballot is the Libertarian ticket of Michael Badnarik and Richard Campagna.
The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. for Jackson County's 25,233 registered voters.
Approximately 1,800 of those had taken advantage of early voting by Tuesday afternoon, according to Board of Election officials.
In addition to the presidential election, many other high profile races are on the ballot.
Former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles is the Democratic nominee for Edwards' Senate seat. He is opposed by Republican Congressman Richard Burr and Libertarian Tom Bailey.
Veteran Republican Congressman Charles Taylor is facing opposition for the 11th District seat from Democrat Patsy Keever, a Buncombe County commissioner.
On the state level, Democrat Mike Easley is seeking a second term as governor. His challengers are Republican Patrick Ballantine, a former state senator, and Libertarian Barbara Howe.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue is seeking a second term. Her opponents are Republican Jim Snyder and Libertarian Christopher Cole.
State Rep. Phil Haire of Sylva, a Democrat in District 119, is seeking another term against Republican Marge Carpenter of Waynesville, a former member of the state House.
Republican Bob Carpenter of Franklin, a veteran legislator from state Senate District 50, is opposed by Democrat John Snow of Murphy, a former District Court judge, and Libertarian Ben Lamm.
District Attorney Mike Bonfoey, a Democrat appointed to the position following the death of Charlie Hipps, is unopposed.
Candidates for Council of State offices are as follows with the Democrat listed first followed by the Republican and (I) denoting the incumbent.
Attorney general – Roy Cooper (I) and Joe Knott.
Auditor – Ralph Campbell (I) and Leslie Merritt.
Commissioner of agriculture – Britt Cobb (I) and Steve Troxler.
Commissioner of insurance – Jim Long (I) and Robert Brawley.
Commissioner of labor – Wayne Goodwin and Cherie Berry (I).
Secretary of state – Elaine Marshall (I) and Jay Rao.
Superintendent of public instruction – June Atkinson and Bill Fletcher.
Several non-partisan judicial races are on the ballot.
Drawing the most attention locally is the battle for Snow's seat as a District Court judge from the 30th District. Monica Leslie, a former prosecutor who was appointed to the seat, is opposed by Waynesville attorney Sybil Mann.
Unopposed for re-election to another District 30 Court judgeship is Richlyn Holt.
Jackson County native Alan Thornburg, who was appointed to a seat on the Court of Appeals, is opposed by Barbara Jackson, general counsel for the Department of Labor.
Two other Court of Appeals judges are running for re-election. Linda McGee is being challenged by Raleigh attorney Bill Parker, and Wanda Bryant faces opposition from District Court Judge Alice Stubbs.
Sarah Parker, an associate justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, is being challenged by Court of Appeals Judge John Tyson.
Eight people are running for an open seat on the State Supreme Court. They are Wake County attorneys Ronnie Ansley, Rachel Hunter, Betsy McCrodden and Marvin Schiller, Superior Court Judge Howard Manning, senior administrative law judge Fred Morrison, federal prosecutor Paul Newby and Court of Appeals Judge James Wynn.
In another non-partisan race, Tom Massie is unopposed for a seat on the soil and water conservation district board.
Three state constitutional amendments are on the ballot.
Amendment 1 would permit local governments to issue self-financing bonds to pay for public improvements in partnership with private investment within a designated development district.
Amendment 2 would require civil penalties, forfeitures and fines collected by state agencies be distributed to public school districts on a per pupil basis.
Amendment 3 would keep the initial terms of magistrates at two years but extend subsequent terms to four years.
Early voting will continue through Saturday at the Board of Elections Office, the Cashiers Community Library, the Tribal Utility Building and the Jackson County Recreation Center. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Polling place are as follow:
Barkers Creek, Barkers Creek CDC Building; Canada, Canada Fire Department; Caney Fork, Caney Fork Community Building; Cashiers, Cashiers Fire Department; Cullowhee, Jackson County Recreation Center; Dillsboro, Town Hall; Greens Creek, Savannah Community Building; Hamburg, Glenville Community Building; Mountain, Pine Creek Community Building; Qualla, Qualla Community Building; River, Tuckasegee Fire Department; Savannah, Savannah Fire Department; 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; and Webster, Old Webster School.
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