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Haire, Enloe to face challengers this fall

By Carey Phillips
Sylva attorney Phil Haire

Phil Haire

 Sylva attorney Phil Haire easily won renomination to the State House in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Haire carried all five counties in the 52nd District in his bid for a second term. The district has two seats, and he will be joined on the ticket this fall by Mary Ann Enloe of Haywood County.

Unofficial returns show Haire with 6,767 votes throughout the district to Enloe's 3,764. Rounding out the field were Rick Lee with 3,233 votes and Charles Starnes with 3,194.

In Jackson County, Haire had 1,528 votes. Enloe was a distant second with 530 followed by Lee at 481 and Starnes at 464.

"Thanks to all my friends from throughout the district, especially Jackson County," Haire said. "Jackson County set the tone. The people showed a lot of confidence in me."

Haire also was well out in front in Haywood County, home to his three opponents.

"I knew I had a lot of support over there," he said. "A lot of people told me I was going to do well."

Haire was recently ranked the most effective freshman in the state House of Representatives.
Tom Massie of Sylva Photo by Rose Hooper

"I've already made up my mind. Now all I have to do is touch the square with my choice," said Tom Massie of Sylva as he demonstrated how easy Jackson County's new touch voting machines operate. "You might think you've touched too lightly, but the little red dot pops right up to tell you how you voted." When finished with the touch selections, voters simply pushed the green "Vote" button at the bottom to record their selection. Turnout in Jackson County was low for Tuesday's primary, with about 12 percent of eligible voters finding their ways to the polls.

"When I went to Raleigh, I promised to work hard for the people of this district," he said. "The effectiveness rating shows I did. The vote shows the people have confidence."

Haire and Enloe will meet Republicans Marge Carpenter and Jesse Sigmon this fall.

Voter turnout may have been at an all-time low for a state primary. In Jackson County, just over 12 percent of those registered went to the polls.

Two Republican primaries were held for legislative seats involving southern Jackson County. State Sen. Bob Carpenter was an easy winner in District 42, while Roger West was nominated for the 53rd House District seat.

In Jackson County, Carpenter had 59 votes to seven for Kim Talbot and five for Dan West.

Roger West and Mickey Duvall tied in Jackson County with 46 votes apiece, although Duvall had withdrawn from active participation in the race.

Races for two seats on the non-partisan Jackson County Board of Education produced candidates running unopposed. Incumbent Mary Jane Dillard had 1,511 votes in District 1, while 34 votes were cast for write-in candidates. Kenny Nicholson had 1,791 votes in District 3 with 18 write-in votes cast.

Jackson County went against the state trend in the Democratic race for governor. Attorney General Mike Easley scored a surprisingly easy victory statewide.

However, Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker won locally with 1,040 votes to Easley's 907. Bob Ayers had 33 votes followed by Ken Rogers with 24, Kenneth Gottfried with 17, Roger Maines with six and Bryan Ipock with five.
Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot is the Republican candidate for governor. He carried Jackson County with 327 votes to 213 for State Rep. Leo Daughtry, 75 for former State Rep. Chuck Neely and 24 for Art Manning.

Barbara Howe is the Libertarian nominee for governor. She and her opponent, Jonathan Littlejohn of Cherokee, both received two votes locally.

North Carolina will elect its first female lieutenant governor this fall when Democrat Beverly Perdue and Republican Betsy Cochran square off. Both are members of the State Senate.

Perdue polled 1,215 votes in Jackson County to 334 for Ed Wilson, 221 for Bob Ansley and 103 for Joel Harbinson.

Cochran carried the county with 384 votes to Andy Nilsson's 195.

The presidential race has long been decided, and the front-runners prevailed in North Carolina and Jackson County. On the Democratic side, Vice President Al Gore had 1,573 votes here to 283 for former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley. There were 117 votes for no preference, while Lyndon LaRouche had 35 votes.

Among Republicans, Texas Gov. George Bush led the way here with 481 votes. Alan Keyes had 79 votes followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain with 71 and Gary Bauer with 11. Five voters went for no preference.

Turning to the Council of State, incumbent Democrat Ralph Campbell was nominated for another term as state auditor. He had 956 votes here to 737 for Pamela Connell.

Republican Leslie Merritt will oppose Campbell this fall. He edged Jack Daly locally 172-170, while Johnnie Mayfield had 151 votes.

Richard Moore defeated Richard James in the Democratic race for state treasurer. Moore won Jackson County 1,114-482.

A Republican runoff is possible for commissioner of agriculture. Steve Troxler held a slight lead over Bob Davidson but was well short of the 40 percent needed to avoid a runoff. Davidson led in Jackson County with 161 votes to 115 for Billy Guthrie. Troxler polled 111 votes followed by Elbie Powers with 45, David Rouzer with 39 and Frank Tadlock with 35.

Whoever emerges will meet Democrat Meg Phipps in November. The daughter of former Gov. Bob Scott had 644 votes in Jackson County. Graham Boyd was second at 586 followed by Norris Tolson with 343 and Bobby McLamb at 242.

Republicans could also see a runoff for commissioner of labor as State Rep. Cherie Berry was just short of the 40 percent threshold leaving John Miller the runoff option. Locally, she had 208 votes to Miller's 166. Mac Weatherman finished with 67 votes here, and Carl Southard had 65.

Doug Berger is the Democratic nominee for labor commissioner. However, Dana Cope carried Jackson County with 693 votes to Berger's 592 and George Parrott's 366.

Both parties had one judicial race. Democrat Robin Hudson will seek a seat on the state Court of Appeals, while Republican Bob Edmunds was nominated for a seat on the State Supreme Court.

Hudson led Tab Hunter 904-693 in Jackson County. Edmunds came out on top here with 335 votes to 201 for Marvin Schiller.

Davidson and Miller have until Tuesday to call for a runoff, which would be held May 30.

New voting machines were used in Jackson County. Director of Elections Lisa Lovedahl-Lehman reported all went well.

"The new voting machines worked great," she said. "Even though they are new, the public and precinct officials adapted well. We had very few problems. Aside from a low voter turnout, the election went great. The tallying went smooth. We had all the totals in by 10 o'clock when normally it would have been 12 o'clock. It was very fast and very accurate. There is little chance of human error."

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