Election 2010
Thursday, 04 March 2010

Candidates begin filing for election at the Board of Elections.
By Marla Dalrymple 
Staff Writer

[click here to vote in our Public Opinion Poll]

Filing for the 2010 election season closed on Friday, Feb. 26, at noon. The primary election will be held on May 4, with the runoff schedule for June 22. Locally, three seats for the Macon County Board of Commissioners will be contested. Candidates for Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds and Sheriff will also be on the ballot.

District 50 of the North Carolina Senate will be an interesting race to watch. Two candidates from Macon County, Jim Davis and Jimmy Goodman, have filed for the Republican ticket. The winner of the primary will face incumbent Sen. John Snow (Dem.) in November. For voting information, contact the Board of Elections at (828) 349-2034 or visit the Macon County website at www.maconnc.org.

County Commission

Three seats are up for re-election on the Macon County Board of Commissioners, one in District I and two in District II. Commissioners Ronnie Beale, Bob Simpson and Brian McClellan are all running for their open seats.

District I - Democrats

Michael David Rogers
Michael David Rogers was born in Franklin but lived most of his life in Highlands, graduating from Highlands School in 1981. Rogers owns a water and sewer company and is also a landscaper. He said he cares about Macon County and hopes to bring to the board more ideas to create a green process, whether through improving recycling centers or cleaning up the Cullasaja River. Rogers’ father, Larry Rogers, is a commissioner on the Highlands Town Board. “I will be a good asset for Macon County,” said Rogers.

Allan (Ricky) Bryson spent two terms previously as a Macon County commissioner from 1998-2006. He has been self employed for 25 years and was born and raised in Highlands.

District I - Republicans

Jimmy Tate is a fifth generation Macon County native who owns his own landscaping business and works part time for Macon County Emergency Medical Services. Tate has served as chairman of several boards including the Highlands Appearance Commission, the Town of Highlands Planning Board, the Town of Highlands Land Use Committee and the Town of Highlands Zoning Board of Adjustment. He has also served as Rescue Captain of the Highlands Fire Department.

Brian McClellan
Brian McClellan is the incumbent for District I. Mc- Clellan is a financial advisor and member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. McClellan represents the board of commissioners on the Child and Family Council, the Criminal Justice Partnership, the Highlands Tourism Development Commission, Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Board and the Watershed Review Board.

District II - Democrats

Bob Simpson
Bob Simpson is an incumbent for District II. Simpson owns a contracting business and represents the board of commissioners on the Airport Authority, the Animal Control Study Committee, the Dangerous Dog Board, the Economic Development Commission, the Franklin/Nantahala Tourism Development Commission, the Greenway Project, the Recreation Commission, Schools, Region A including Advisory Council and the Transportation Advisory Council, Transit Services and the Water/Sewer Committee.

Carroll Poindexter
Carroll Poindexter was born and raised in Macon County and graduated from Franklin High School. Poindexter has a business administration degree and three separate construction licenses. He was also a former building inspector with the county. Currently Poindexter owns his own construction business, teaches part-time at Southwestern Community College and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association.

Ronnie Beale is also an incumbent for District II. Beale graduated from Franklin High School in 1973 and owns a construction company. He has served as past chairman of several boards including the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, Macon County Social Services, Macon County Board of Equalization and Review, Macon County Planning Board and the North Carolina Community Foundation. He has also served on the board for REACH and as president of the Franklin Daybreak Rotary Club.

Ronnie Beale
Beale represents the Board of Commissioners on the Department on Aging Advisory Board, Inspections/ Building Committee, Law Enforcement, Courthouse Security, REACH, Macon Citizens for the Handicapped, Mental Health, Planning Board, Region A including the Advisory Council and Transportation Advisory Council, Senior Services, Schools and the WNC Caucus Board.

District II - Republicans

Ron Haven
Ron Haven grew up in Macon County, a place he said he loves. Haven is a business owner who said his goals include helping people start small businesses by providing them with education and funding sources. “I am unhappy seeing my fellow citizens without jobs or income,” said Haven, adding that he sees solutions such as lowering taxes. “I want to see folks proceed and prosper in Franklin.”

Charlie Leatherman served as county commissioner from 2000 to 2008 and was unable to be reached.

Clerk of Court - Democrat

Vic Perry
Vic Perry is a 54-yearold native of Macon County. Perry has been the elected clerk for the last three years. Prior to his profession as clerk, Perry served 18 years as a state magistrate. Perry feels nearly 22 years of experience in the court system has made him a strong candidate by teaching him patience.

Throughout his career, Perry explained that he has learned how to deal with people. “My number one priority is public service,” he said adding, “I just really enjoy the job. I enjoy serving Macon County, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so.”

Sheriff - Democrats

George Lynch
George Lynch is a 61-year-old native of Macon County, whose family history goes back over 150 years in this area. Lynch has 34 years of law enforcement experience through the U.S. Forest Service, working at the Nantahala National Forest. Lynch said that he is prepared for the office of Sheriff, because of his extensive history in law enforcement.

Lynch is a current member of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as a member of the American Legion.

“I have a strong desire to protect and serve the citizens of Macon County,” said Lynch. “I have a sense of civic duty, to give back to a community that’s given a lot to my family over the years” he said.

Ricky DeHart is a 39-year-old native of Macon County. DeHart is part owner of the young scrap metal company Southern Steel. For six years DeHart worked for the town of Franklin public works department. Before that he worked for Lowes for six years, and Jennings building supply for five and a half years. Although DeHart served as an intern for the Sheriff’s Office twelve years ago, he has no law enforcement experience.

DeHart feels there are a lot of changes that need to be made about the current sheriff’s office. “I just want to make a difference in the department,” said DeHart of his drive to run for Sheriff.

Richard Davis
Though 43-year-old Richard Davis was born in Swain County, he spent much of his life Macon County, before finally settling here in 1981. Davis feels because of his deep connection with Western North Carolina, he is compelled to protect it.

Davis has 14 years of law enforcement experience. Davis worked from 1995-2002 at the MCSO until former sheriff Homer Holbrooks retired. The final two and a half years spent at MCSO, Davis served as the sheriff’s chief deputy. After running for sheriff and losing to current sheriff Robbie Holland, Davis then worked at the Franklin Police Department. Davis feels because of his years of various law enforcement duties has given him a higher learning of the justice system.

“We have got to get back into community policing,” said Davis.

Sheriff - Republican

Sheriff Robbie Holland
Robbie Holland, 43, has been Sheriff of Macon County for eight years. Holland is a native of Naples, Fla. Holland started out at the Macon County Sheriff ’s Office (MCSO) as a volunteer in 1991. Upon being certified as a detention officer, as well as a degree in basic law enforcement training, Holland became a deputy sheriff. Afterward, Holland was promoted to being a juvenile officer, and then later promoted to detective sergeant before being elected sheriff.

Holland is a member of the NC Sheriff’s Association, NC Juvenile Officers Association, member of KIDS Place (child advocacy center), serves as chairman of the Substance Abuse Task Force, member of the Child Fatality Review Team, served on School Health Advisory Committee and various other organizations.

“I want to keep our Sheriff’s Office moving in the right direction,” said Holland. “We have come a long way, and we got a long way to go.”

NC Senate District 50

The 50th North Carolina Senatorial District covers Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and Transylvania Counties. Two candidates from Macon County have filed to run against incumbent Democrat, Sen John Snow.

Republican

Jim Davis
Jim Davis, 63, was born in Lynchburg, Va. He moved to Franklin in 1974 right after graduating from dental school.

First elected to serve on the Macon County Board Of Commissioners in 1996, Davis went off the board in 2000. He then moved to a different district and again elected in 2004. Davis was reelected again in 2008.

Davis serves as commission liaison to many boards in county government, though his main responsibility is the health board.

“As a county commissioner for nine years I have a good understanding of county government,” said Davis in a statement.

Jimmy Goodman
Jimmy Goodman, 51, has lived in Macon County since 1990. A local craftsman, Goodman served as a member of the Planning Board for four years, from 2004 to 2008.

Goodman believes in less government, more freedom and lower taxes. Goodman says he has worked on and supported many campaigns in the past, but he believes that all elected officials change when they get in office.

When asked why he wanted to run for public office, Goodman says he was screaming at the TV set one evening when his wife asked him why not just run for office. After some historical investigation, he decided to enter the race. “I thought, if no one else will do it, I guess I need to.”

“I believe I can serve the people and maintain the ability to actually listen to the people and keep my common sense down to earth attitude,” said Goodman in a written statement.

Democrat

John Snow
John Snow, a native of Murphy, served as a District Court judge for almost 30 years prior to first being elected to the Senate in 2004. He has been elected to the position three times.

In announcing his bid for re-election, Snow said his top priorities will be creating jobs, expanding educational opportunities for our children, and fighting to reduce the drop out rate. “As we come out of this recession, our recovery will depend upon our strong support of our educational system at all levels, the public schools, community colleges, and higher education,” said Snow.

Snow serves as co-chair of the Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety. He is also a member of the Education/ Higher Education, Transportation, Agriculture/ Environment/Natural Resources, and Judiciary II Committees.

“In my lifelong commitment to the people of Western North Carolina, first as a District Court judge, and now as a State Senator, I have always done my best to serve the people, and uphold the laws and the Constitution,” said Snow. “If allowed to serve, I will continue to put the people before politics and continue to work for our fair share of State resources. I will continue to work hard to provide quality constituent services and will always listen and be accessible to the people.”

Register of Deeds - Democrat

Todd Raby
Todd Raby, 41, is a Macon County native and the current register of deeds for the court house. Raby now has four years experience as register of deeds. Prior to working for the court house, Raby had worked for Caterpillar for 11 years, after years of working retail.

“I am responsible for all the documents that are recorded at my office, like vital records and those types of things,” Raby explained. “It gives you a good feeling to know that you can take that responsibility and have the good staff that I have.”


Contributing writer Davin Eldridge contributed to this story.

State and federal candidates

US SENATE (D)

Marcus W. Williams, LUMBERTON
Ann Worthy, GASTONIA
Elaine Marshall, RALEIGH
Ken Lewis, CHAPEL HILL
Susan Harris, OLD FORT
Cal Cunningham, LEXINGTON

US SENATE (R)

Larry Linney, CHARLOTTE
Brad Jones, LAKE TOXAWAY
Eddie Burks, ASHEBORO
Richard Burr (Incumbent), WINSTON-SALEM

US SENATE (LIB)

Michael Beitler, OAK RIDGE

US HOUSE DISTRICT 11 (D)

Aixa Wilson, ASHEVILLE
Heath Shuler (Incumbent), WAYNESVILLE

US HOUSE DISTRICT 11 (R)

Kenny West, HAYESVILLE
Gregory A. Newman, HENDERSONVILLE
Jeff Miller, HENDERSONVILLE
Ed Krause, MARION
James (Jake) Howard, FRANKLIN
Dan Eichenbaum, MURPHY

NC SENATE DISTRICT 50 (D)

John J. Snow, Jr., MURPHY

NC SENATE DISTRICT 50 (R)

Jimmy Goodman, FRANKLIN
Jim Davis, FRANKLIN

NC HOUSE DIST. 119 (D)

Phil Haire, SYLVA
Bruce (Avram) Friedman, SYLVA

NC HOUSE DISTRICT 119 (R)

Dodie Allen, SYLVA

NC HOUSE DISTRICT 120 (D)

Randy Hogsed, ANDREWS

NC HOUSE DISTRICT 120 (R)

Roger West, MARBLE
Tim West, ANDREWS

DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 30 (D)

Mike Bonfoey, LAKE JUNALUSKA

SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE (BRADY SEAT)

Barbara Jackson, RALEIGH,
Robert C. (Bob) Hunter, RALEIGH

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE (STEELMAN SEAT)

Sanford Steelman (Incumbent), WEDDINGTON

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE (CALABRIA SEAT)

Mark E. Klass, LEXINGTON
Jane Gray, RALEIGH
Ann Marie Calabria (Incumbent), MORRISVILLE

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE (ELMORE SEAT)

Steven Walker, RALEIGH
Rick Elmore (Incumbent), RALEIGH
Leto Copeley, HILLSBOROUGH
Alton D. (Al) Bain, LILLINGTON

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE (GEER SEAT)

Dean R. Poirier, MOUNT OLIVE
Martha Geer, RALEIGH,

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DIST. 30 (BRYANT SEAT)

David F. Sutton, WAYNESVILLE
J. Caleb Rogers, CLYDE
Justin B. Greene, BRYSON CITY
Kristina L. Earwood, WAYNESVILLE
Greg Boyer, FRANKLIN

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DIST. 30 (DAVIS SEAT)

Roy Wijewickrama, WAYNESVILLE
Russell (Rusty) McLean III, WAYNESVILLE
Stephen G. Ellis, WAYNESVILLE

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 30 (VANHOOK SEAT)

Danya Ledford Vanhook (Incumbent), WAYNESVILLE
Donna Forga, CLYDE