Shearl wins Macon District 1, Rogers wins Jackson chair
Voters in Macon and Jackson counties cast ballots during early voting and on March 3 to select party nominees for key local and statewide offices. Several closely watched races have set the stage for the Nov. 3 general election. Results are unofficial until the March 13 canvass.
In Macon County, John Shearl won a tight Republican primary for Board of Commissioners District 1, earning 2,409 votes (38.3%). Joey Wilson followed with 1,960 votes (31.1%), and Don Willis finished close behind with 1,926 votes (30.6%). Shearl will go up against Democrat Russ Lunn in the General Election.
In District 2, where two seats were open, Kellie McConnell Burns and Dylan Castle were the top vote-getters, winning the nomination with 3,281 votes (30.8%) and 2,744 votes (25.8%), respectively. David B. Culpepper received 2,005 votes (18.8%), Nick Lofthouse 1,950 votes (18.3%), and Danny Reitmeier 677 votes (6.4%), although Reitmeier had withdrawn from the race. The Republican primary winners for District 2 will face Democrats Terry Bell and Janet Greene in the General Election.
In Jackson County, David J. Rogers won the Republican primary for Board of Commissioners Chairman with 1,298 votes (39.8%), outpacing incumbent Mark Letson at 1,014 votes (31.1%). Jon Brown received 699 votes (21.4%) and Jarrett Crowe received 250 votes (7.7%). On the Democratic side, Marcia Almond won decisively, capturing 2,478 votes (74.1%) against Bobbi Hopp, who received 865 votes (25.9%).
The Democratic primary for Jackson County Board of Commissioners District 1 saw Casey Walawender emerge on top with 1,333 votes (39.6%), followed by Julie Painter with 1,183 votes (35.2%), John A. Herrera with 711 votes (21.1%), and German (Worm) Vivas with 137 votes (4.1%). Republican Steven J. Sutton won his party’s nomination for the same seat with 1,700 votes (53.6%), defeating Anthony K. Sequoyah, who received 1,474 votes (46.4%).
Sean Bridgers claimed the Democratic nomination for District 2 with 2,299 votes (69.2%), while Frances O. Owens received 1,025 votes (30.8%).
Republican Brent Holbrooks secured re-election as Macon County Sheriff, winning 4,406 votes (69.3%) to Bob Cook’s 1,950 votes (30.7%). In Jackson County, Republican Doug Farmer also retained his position as sheriff with 2,403 votes (72.2%), defeating Brandon Elders, who received 925 votes (27.8%). With no Democratic candidates running for sheriff in either county, these races are not expected to appear on the November General Election ballot.
In the Republican primary for NC House District 119, incumbent Mike Clampitt received 4,484 votes (56.8%), defeating Anna Ferguson, who received 2,964 votes (37.5%), and Mike Yow, who received 447 votes (5.7%).
Statewide, former Governor Roy Cooper dominated the Democratic primary for the open U.S. Senate seat, taking 92% of the vote. On the Republican side, former RNC Chair Michael Whatley won with 64.6%, with Donald M. (Don) Brown second 15.6%.
- By Josh Bryson
editor@highlandsnews.com