Voters to choose next president, governor

By Carey Phillips

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Of local interest is the measure concerning the structure of Jackson County government. Voters will voice their opinion on whether Jackson should remain alone among the state's 100 counties in electing a county manager who also serves as chairman of the board of commissioners or switch to an appointed county manager form of government.

The referendum is non-binding, but a majority of commissioners have pledged to abide by the results of the vote.

Jackson County has 23,590 registered voters, an 18.7 percent increase from four years ago. Democrats are up 10.6 percent to 11,943. Republicans increased 19.4 percent to 6,932. The surge in unaffiliated voters continued with a huge 81.5 percent increase to 4,682. The county has 26 Libertarians registered, while seven voters are registered with the Reform Party.

Democrats make up a slight majority of registered voters at 50.6 percent. Republicans comprise 29.4 percent with unaffiliateds at 19.8 percent.

Already a number of county voters have cast their ballots. For the first time, no-excuse voting allows voters to cast a one-stop ballot regardless of whether they will be out of the county on Election Day. As of Monday afternoon, more than 1,200 people had voted. The total includes regular absentee and no excuse voting.

The one-stop and no-excuse deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Ballots may be cast from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through today (Thursday) and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday at the Board of Elections office in the old county administration building on Ridgeway Street. A satellite voting site at the Tuckasegee Fire Substation is open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday.

Another referendum creating local interest is a bond for improvements to higher education facilities across the state. Western Carolina University stands to gain $98.4 with $10.4 million earmarked for Southwestern Community College.

Voters are reminded that a straight party vote does not include a vote for president. This is true on voting machines as well as paper ballots.

For many voters, this will be the first time using new voting machines. The machines were used in the primary, but voting was extremely light.

Two Jackson County residents are seeking a return to the state legislature.

State Rep. Phil Haire of Sylva and Haywood County Commissioner Mary Ann Enloe are the Democratic nominees from the 52nd District. They are opposed by Republicans Marge Carpenter of Haywood County and Jesse Sigmon of Madison County. The 52nd District includes all of Jackson County except Hamburg and Cashiers precincts.

Those precincts are in District 53 where incumbent Republican Roger West of Cherokee County is opposed by Democrat Sonny Burrell of Macon County.

Democrat Dan Robinson of Cullowhee is seeking another term in the state senate from District 29. Republican Judith Fraser of Haywood County is his opponent. The district includes all of Jackson County except Cashiers Precinct.

Cashiers is in District 42 where Republican Bob Carpenter of Macon County is running for re-election against Libertarian Larry Gavel of Macon County.

At the top of the ticket, Vice President Al Gore and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman are running for president and vice president as Democrats. The Republican ticket is comprised of Texas Gov. George W. Bush and former Defense Secretary Dick Chaney. Libertarian candidates are Harry Browne and Art Oliver. The Reform ticket includes Pat Buchanan and Eloza Foster.

Green Party candidate Ralph Nader is not on the ballot in North Carolina because his supporters failed to gain the required number of signatures.

Incumbent Republican Charles Taylor of Brevard is being challenged by Democrat Sam Neill of Henderson County for the 11th District Congressional seat. Charles Williams of Yancey County is the Libertarian candidate.

Attorney General Mike Easley, a Democrat, and former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot, a Republican, are running for governor. Barbara Howe is the Libertarian candidate and Douglas Schell represents the Reform Party.

A pair of state senators, Democrat Beverly Perdue and Republican Betsy Cochrane, are running for lieutenant governor. The Reform candidate is Catherine Carter.

Candidates for attorney general are Democrat State Sen. Roy Cooper, Republican Dan Boyce and Reformist Margaret Palms.

Democrat Ralph Campbell is seeking another term as state auditor. His Republican opponent is Leslie Merritt.

Democrat Meg Scott Phipps and Republican State Troxler are running for commissioner of agriculture. Incumbent Democrat Jim Long and Republican Mike Causey are candidates for commissioner of insurance. Running for commissioner of labor are Democrat Doug Berger and Republican State Rep. Cherrie Berry. Incumbent Democrat Elaine Marshall and Republican Harris Blake are running for secretary of state. Seeking the office of superintendent of public instruction are incumbent Democrat Mike Ward and Republican Michael Barrick.

Democrat Richard Moore and Republican Henry McKoy are vying for state treasurer. They are both former state representatives.

Incumbent Democrat Henry Frye and Republican Beverly Lake, currently an associate justice, are running for chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

Candidates for an associate justice seat are incumbent Democrat Franklin Freeman and Republican Bob Edmunds Jr. a member of the N.C. Court of Appeals.

Five seats are up for grabs on the Court of Appeals. Incumbent Democrat Clarence Horton is opposed by Republican Doug McCullough. Other incumbents are Democrats Jim Fuller, John Martin and James Wynn Jr. They are being opposed by Republicans John Tyson, Wendy Enochs and Wendell Schollander, respectively. Seeking an open seat are Democrat Robin Hudson and Republican Paul Stam.

Incumbent Democrats Richlyn Holt and John Snow Jr. are unopposed as District Court judges.

In a non-partisan race, Tom Massie is unopposed for soil and water district supervisor.

Polling places are as follows:

Barkers Creek, Barkers Creek CDC; Canada, Canada Fire Department; Caney Fork, Caney Fork Community Building; Cashiers, Cashiers Community Building; Cullowhee, Cullowhee Valley School; 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 Department; Scotts Creek #1, Scotts Creek School; Scotts Creek #2, Willets Community Building; Scotts Creek #3, Balsam Community Building; Sylva North, Justice Center; Sylva South, Community Service Center; Webster, old Webster School.

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