N.C. voters could determine control of U.S. Senate

By Carey Phillips

The contest between Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Elizabeth Dole has drawn national attention as both parties battle for control in an evenly divided Senate.

Bowles, a former White House chief of staff, and Dole a former cabinet secretary, are vying to replace Republican Jesse Helms, who is stepping down after 30 years. Libertarian Sean Haugh is also on the ballot.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. for the county's 23,262 registered voters. The total includes 11,468 Democrats, 6,661 Republicans, 35 Libertarians and 5,098 who are unaffiliated.

Locally, voters will be picking a new sheriff and deciding on three contested races for county commissioners. A measure is also on the ballot that would establish staggered terms for commissioners.

Democrat Jimmy Ashe, who defeated incumbent Jim Cruzan in the primary, is opposed by Republican Curtis Lambert for sheriff.

The contested commissioner seats are between Democrat Brian McMahan and Republican Dodie Blaschik in District 2, Democrat Joe Cowan and Republican Linda Belcher in District 3 and Democrat Eddie Madden and Republican Arnold Nicholson in District 4.

Democrats running unopposed for commissioner are Stacy Buchanan, the current District 3 representative, for chairman and incumbent Roberta Crawford in District 1.

Except for chairman, commission candidates must live in the district in which they run, although voting is countywide.

If the staggered term measure is approved by voters, the top two vote-getters for district seats in 2006 would be elected for four years. The other two winners would be elected for two years and could run for four-year terms in 2008. The term of chairman would not be affected.

Also running unopposed for county office are incumbent Democrats Frank Watson for clerk of court and Joe Hamilton for register of deeds.

Democrat Charles Hipps of Waynesville is unopposed for district attorney.

Democrat Phil Haire of Sylva is seeking re-election to the N.C. House in District 119. He is opposed by Republican Kaye Matthews of Maggie Valley.

In the N.C. Senate, redistricting has forced a battle of incumbents in District 50 with Democrat Dan Robinson of Cullowhee squaring off against Republican Bob Carpenter of Franklin.

The race for the 11th Congressional District seat is a rematch of two years ago with incumbent Republican Charles Taylor meeting Democrat Sam Neill. Also running is Libertarian Eric Henry.

Two seats are up for grabs on the N.C. Supreme Court. Incumbent Republican Bob Orr is opposed by Democrat Court of Appeals Judge Bob Hunter. Incumbent Democrat G.K. Butterfield is running against Republican Edward Brady.

Four seats will be decided on the Court of Appeals. Candidates include Democrat George Barrett against Republican Rick Elmore; incumbent Democrat Hugh Campbell against Republican District Court Judge Eric Levinson; Democrat Martha Geer against Republican District Court Judge Bill Constangy; incumbent Democrat Loretta Biggs against Republican Superior Court Judge Stanford Steelman; and incumbent Democrat Wanda Bryant against Republican District Court Judge Ann Marie Calabria.

Unopposed for re-election in non-partisan judicial races are Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt and District Court judges Danny Davis, Brad Letts and Steve Bryant.

John Wittekind is unopposed for the non-partisan position of soil and water supervisor.

Also on the ballot is a state constitutional amendment that would make a technical correction to allow property to be accepted into the State Nature and Historic Preserve by the General Assembly passing a bill rather than a joint resolution.

Early voting will continue through Saturday. One-stop ballots may be cast at the Board of Elections office in Sylva, the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee and the Tribal Utilities Building in Cherokee. For more information, call 586-7538.

Mailed out absentee ballots must be returned by Monday to the Board of Elections office.

As of Tuesday afternoon approximately 900 absentee and one-stop ballots had been cast, Election Director Lisa Lehman said.

Polling places are as follows:

Barkers Creek, Barkers Creek CDC

Canada, Canada Fire Department

Caney Fork, Caney Fork Community Building

Cashiers, Cashiers Fire Department

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

Savannah, Savannah Fire Department

Scotts Creek I, old Scotts Creek School

Scotts Creek II, Willets Community Building

Scotts Creek III, Balsam Community Building

Sylva North, Jackson County Justice Center

Sylva South, Jackson County Community Service Center

Webster, old Webster School.

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