By Rose Hooper
Even though Friday, the official opening day for filing, fell
on the Fourth of July 4 holiday, Jackson County Board of Elections
Director Lisa Lehman held her door open for filers from noon
to 12:20 p.m.
She had no takers.
As of Tuesday, no one had filed for office in the upcoming town
of Sylva or Village of Forest Hills municipal elections. They
have until noon Aug. 1 to do so.
In the Sylva town election, seats held by Audrey Tritt, Maurice
Moody, Danny Allen and Ann Cabe are up for election.
To initiate staggered terms beginning with the 2001 election,
Sylva's mayor and the top two vote-getters were elected to serve
four years, while the other three serve two years.
The three seats up for election in November are for four-year
terms. Beginning this November, every two years Sylva voters
will select three board members to serve four-year terms.
Eldon Cabe, top vote-getter in the 2001 Sylva election, died
in March and his widow, Ann Cabe, was appointed to fill his
unexpired term. That seat is also up for election to fill out
the two remaining years of the unexpired term.
The other top 2001 vote getter, Eldridge Painter, has two more
years to serve in his term, as does Mayor Brenda Oliver.
In Forest Hills, the two-year position of mayor, currently held
by Jim Davis, who was sworn in December 2001, is up for election.
Sue Burton's council position is up for grabs, as is Joe Rossano's.
Burton was appointed in April 2002 to fill Harold Williford's
unexpired term, while Rossano was elected in November 2001 to
fill Sharon Jacques' unexpired term.
Council members Jim Wallace and Dick Iobst will retain their
positions for two more years.
The non-partisan elections are set for Tuesday, Nov. 4.
