Oliver re-elected; liquor vote fails

By Carey Phillips

Early results from Tuesday's election also showed that a referendum to allow liquor-by-the-drink in Sylva was narrowly defeated.

The election was historic for Sylva as it was the first non-partisan race in the town's history and Danny Allen became the first African-American ever elected to a town office.

Oliver rolled to victory with 71.6 percent of the vote. She defeated Joan Hooper Stearns 308-122.

Incumbent Eldon Cabe was the top vote-getter for commissioner with 286 votes. Eldridge Painter, a former county commissioner, was next with 269 votes.

Cabe and Painter joined Oliver in winning four-year terms. Sylva is switching to staggered terms, with the other three commissioner seats coming open again in two years.

Winning two-year terms were incumbent Audrey Tritt with 258 votes and Allen and incumbent Maurice Moody with 250 votes each.

Defeated in her bid for re-election was Lynda Sossamon, who polled 221 votes. Also coming up short were former town Commissioner David Gates (182) and Sylva firefighter Joel Guffey (160).

Liquor-by-the-drink was turned down with 51.3 percent of voters opposed. The margin was 220-209.

In Dillsboro, Jean Hartbarger, a current town board member, was unopposed for mayor. She received 45 votes, while two votes were cast for write-in candidates.

Incumbents James Cochran and Lela Jean Phillips led the race for Dillsboro town board with 42 votes apiece. Also elected were Emma Wertenberger (40), Mary Moody-Bumgarner (37) and Bud Smith (34).

Lera Chitwood, who had 21 votes, failed to gain one of Dillsboro's five town board seats.

In a contested race for a seat on the Forest Hills Village Council, Joseph Rossano defeated Clarence Pressley 53-32.Rossano had been appointed to the seat when it became vacant and will be up for re-election in two years. James Davis ran unopposed for Forest Hills mayor and received 81 votes. Three of four write-in votes were for Mayor Irene Hooper, who did not seek re-election.

James Wallace with 75 votes and Richard Iobst with 67 were unopposed for two seats on the village council. Eight write-in votes were cast.

Webster's mayor and five commissioners were unopposed for re-election. Commissioners Skipp Englebright and Raymond Ledford had 17 votes, while Louise Madison Bedford, Billie Jo Bryson and Jean Davenport all had 16 votes, as did Mayor Steve Gray.

All results are unofficial until the canvass is conducted later this week.

Back to Archive: 11/08/01.