A wise man once said, “All politics are local.”
And while the validity of that statement is continually tested in our current political climate, there is one race on ballot that is both local, and timely.
There are two seats up for grabs on the Macon County Board of Commissioners, and both will be decided during the Spring primary.
Incumbent Republican Paul Higdon is being challenged by fellow GOP member Barry Breeden in District 3, while incumbent Republican Josh Young is squaring off against GOP challenger Chris Browning in District 2.
Because no Democrats filed to run for commissioner, the March 5 primary will essentially decide the next four years of county leadership – And an important four years it will be.
As anyone who lives in Macon County is undoubtedly aware, the construction of a new Franklin High School along with renovations to Highlands School, is a joint project that has drawn a lot of interest. Recently the state of North Carolina issued a $62.5 million grant to the county to get the project off the ground. The question is, will the county commit the other roughly $60 million to make the dream a reality? And if so, how will that be paid for?
As big as the school issue is, there are plenty of other questions facing the county in the next four years as well. Will there be additional investment in parks and recreation infrastructure? What is the future of the aging Macon County Courthouse? Will the detention center undergo an expansion and/or renovation?
No matter which of the two commissioner candidates you choose to support, it’s important to know their stances on these major concerns. Because all four men running are Republicans, there isn’t the option to simply enter the voting booth and choose the party. This election will come down to the individual.
Early voting is currently underway and now is the time to do your homework and decide which two candidates will best serve Macon County as a whole. On March 5, we will collectively make a decision as to how the next four years will unfold.