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County voters lean Democratic in Tuesday's election
By Carey Phillips
While the state and nation showed Republican trends, Jackson County remained solidly in the Democratic column, according to complete but unofficial returns from Tuesday's general election.
The lone exception locally was the presidential race where incumbent Republican George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney carried the county with 7,283 votes to 6,700 for the Democratic team of Mass. Sen. John Kerry and N.C. Sen. John Edwards. The Libertarian ticket of Michael Badnarik and Richard Campagna had 76 votes.
Crowds were steady all day Tuesday (Nov. 2) as Jackson County voters turned out to cast their ballots for national, state and local candidates. Waits of up to an hour were reported at several polling places, including the Community Service Center, above. – Herald photo by Carey King
The Bush-Cheney ticket carried the state and appeared on the way to a narrow national victory in the popular and electoral vote. The only thing holding up national media outlets from calling the election for Bush Wednesday morning was the presence of outstanding provisional ballots in Ohio.
Provisional ballots in North Carolina could keep some outcomes from being official until after next Tuesday's canvass. Jackson County has approximately 500 of those ballots.
One of those extremely close races is in the 50th State Senate District. Democrat John Snow, a retired District Court judge, held a narrow lead over incumbent Republican Bob Carpenter. Snow carried Jackson County 7,725-5,976 to 270 for Libertarian Ben Lamm.
Democrats appeared to be holding control of the state Senate.
State Rep. Phil Haire, a Sylva Democrat, won re-election in District 119. He won Jackson County with 7,632 votes to 6,271 for Republican Marge Carpenter, a former state representative.
It appears Haire will be in the majority when he returns to Raleigh with Democrats gaining a narrow edge in the state House to reverse the current Republican advantage.
In a non-partisan District Court race, appointed incumbent Monica Leslie held a narrow districtwide lead over Waynesville attorney Sybil Mann. Leslie won here 6,584-4,529.
District Court Judge Richlyn Holt, who ran unopposed, received 7,390 votes locally.
Republican Charles Taylor defeated Democrat Patsy Keever, a former Buncombe County commissioner, to win re-election to the U.S. Congress from the 11th District. Keever won Jackson County 7,088-7,018.
Republicans increased their majority in the U.S. House.
Republicans also increased their majority in the U.S. Senate. Helping that cause was a win by Congressman Richard Burr for the seat now held by Edwards. Former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, a Democrat, won Jackson County 7,182-6,598. Libertarian Tom Bailey had 276 votes.
No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race from North Carolina in presidential election year since 1968.
The best news for state Democrats was the re-election of Gov. Mike Easley. He carried Jackson County with 8,004 votes to 5,829 for Republican former State Senate leader Patrick Ballantine and 312 for Libertarian Barbara Howe.
Also re-elected was Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat. She had 7,711 votes here to 5,733 for Republican Jim Snyder and 289 for Libertarian Christopher Cole.
Republicans made unprecedented inroads by splitting the eight Council of State races and defeating two Democratic incumbents along the way. Never before has the GOP held more than one Council of State position.
Democrats winning re-election were as follows with heir county vote total followed by that of their Republican opponent.
Attorney general, Roy Cooper over Joe Knott (7,669-5,880); commissioner of insurance, Jim Long over Robert Brawley (7,853-5,635); secretary of state, Elaine Marshall over Jay Rao (7,885-5,531); and treasurer, Richard Moore over Edward Meyer (7,479-5,895).
Republican Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry defeated State Rep. Wayne Goodwin although Goodwin won here 7,001-6,327.
Republican Leslie Merritt defeated Democratic incumbent Ralph Campbell for auditor. Campbell won Jackson County 7,093-6,199.
Republican Steve Troxler ousted appointed incumbent Democrat Britt Cobb for commissioner of agriculture. Cobb carried Jackson County 7,327-6,066.
In the open seat for superintendent of public instruction, Republican Bill Fletcher held a narrow lead over Democrat June Atkinson. In Jackson County, Atkinson won 7,395-6,014.
Jackson County native Alan Thornburg, who was appointed to a non-partisan seat on the State Court of Appeals, failed in his bid to win a full term. He won locally with 6,674 votes to 4,316 for the state winner, Barbara Jackson.
Other Appeals Court winners, both incumbents, and their local totals were:
Linda McGee over Bill Parker (6,034-4,286); and Wanda Bryant over Alice Stubbs (5,845-4,049).
Democrat Mike Bonfoey, who was appointed district attorney, was unopposed for the remainder of the term of the late Charlie Hipps. He had 8,845 votes here.
Sarah Parker held onto her seat as a Supreme Court justice. She won Jackson County with 7,058 votes to 3,459 for John Tyson, a Court of appeals judge.
In a crowded race for a seat on the state's highest court, federal prosecutor Paul Newby came out on top. Rachel Hunter carried Jackson County with 2,018 votes followed Newby (1,859), James Wynn (1,580), Howard Manning (1,387), Betsy McCrodden (1,202), Ronnie Ansley (996), Fred Morrison (571) and Marvin Schiller (286).
Tom Massie was unopposed by soil and water district supervisor and had 9,186 votes.
Mitchell Jenkins had 1,687 votes for a seat on the Whittier Sanitary district board to 12 for Randy Nations.
Jackson County bucked the state trend on constitutional amendments. They all carried statewide but were voted down here.
Amendment 1, allowing self-financing bonds without a vote, lost in the county 3,719-3,566. Amendment 2 designating money from civil penalties to public schools lost here 6,939-3,762. Amendment 3 extending the terms of magistrates lost in Jackson County 5,943-2,372.
"I want to thank all the voters of Jackson County for their patience in exercising their right to vote," said Lisa Lehman, county election director. "I was very pleased with the turnout."
The 57 percent of registered voters who cast ballots matched the total from four years ago.
South Sylva had a line at closing time. It took an extra hour for those in line to cast ballots, Lehman said.
"Everything went smoothly," she said. "Most precincts had a steady line throughout the day."
Poll workers handed out sample ballots so those waiting in line would be famailiar with the machines when their turn came, Lehman said.
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