Election Schedule
The ballot has been set for the Town of Highlands election this fall.
Filing for the 2025 election closed Friday, July 18. Incumbent town commissioners Amy Patterson and Eric Pierson are running unopposed.
Mayor Patrick Taylor is running for re-election. “I decided to seek a fourth term to serve the Highlands community. Working together with the town board and residents, we all have moved Highlands forward in many areas,” he said. “I believe there is more work to be done especially in developing infrastructure and town services. I will be honored to serve another for another four years if the voters reelect me.”
Paul Ordner will challenge Taylor in the mayor’s race. Ordner, who moved to Highlands in January, said this will be his first run for an elected office. “I feel like there are short-term rental problems that need to be addressed,” he said.
He would like to see more amenities at the recreation center and throughout town for people of all ages. He said the town could do more to attracted people interested in outdoor recreation such as long-distance cycling and hiking, and that Highlands would be a good place for corporations to send their staff for sabbaticals.
“There’s not another place like it in the southeast,” said Ordner who has worked in construction management recruitment for more than 40 years as part of Construction Development Recruiters.
The Macon County Board of Elections said they had already received questions about write-in candidates. There will be two lines on the ballot for write-in candidates in the commissioners’ race and one line for a mayoral candidate write-in. Should there be write-in candidates in the commissioners’ race, the top two vote getters will be elected to the board.
Early voting for the town election begins Oct. 16 with Election Day being Nov. 4. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 10. Only those who live in the city limits can vote in the election.
Franklin election
The Town of Franklin also has a municipal election this year. There will be a new mayor as Mayor Jack Horton announced in June he would not run for re-election. Running in the Franklin mayor’s race are Stacy Guffey, who currently serves as vice mayor, and Matthew Holland.
Three seats are open on the Franklin Town Council. Incumbent council member Rita Salain is running for re-election. Joining her on the ballot are Kelton Bailey, Jeff Berry, Tim Cook, Travis Higdon, Kore P. Newman, Bob Scott and Paul A. Thatcher.
Information
Macon County Board of Elections, 828-349-2034, Macon County Courthouse, 1st Floor
- Mia Overton
editor@thefranklinpress.com