Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Candidate filing for the 2022 election closed at noon on Friday in the county and across the state. In Swain County, there were six additional candidates who filed since the previous week’s reporting.
Absentees will become available beginning March 28 and must be requested by May 10. The voter registration deadline is April 28. One-stop early voting begins April 28 and ends May 14. The primary election is May 17.
For the sheriff’s office, a week ago it looked like incumbent Curtis Cochran (R) might go unopposed this year. Not so, as Democratic candidate Doug (Tank) Anthony has now filed. The two will face off for the seat in November.
Clerk of Superior Court Misti Watson-Jones (D) and Register of Deeds Diana Williamson Kirkland (D) have both file for re-election unopposed as has District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch (R).
Two county commission positions and the chairman are up for election. Chairman incumbent Ben Bushyhead (D), filed last week and will face Kevin Seagle (R) who now serves as a commissioner in general election. Newcomer Republicans Isaac Herrin, Donna Cole and David Loftis have also filed as has Phillip Carson, who has served on the board including as chairman in the past (previously was a Democrat). Republican voters will choose two during the primary who will go on to the general election along with the Democrat who has filed, Deborah Smith. Also seeking to run as an independent is Cynthia Womble, who must file by petition to get onto the ballot this fall.
On the Board of Education, Travis Hyatt (D) is seeking re-election. Joining him on the Democrat ballot are Jamie Fisher and Stacy Carson Pegg. On the Republican ballot is R.L. Taylor, Joshua Oliver, Lisa Stoltzfus Loftis and Robert Lowe. Each ballot will send the top two vote getters on to the General Election. Independent Gianna Carson will also run, but will have to file by petition.
State seats
Before filing closed, Karen Burnette McCracken filed to run for the NC Senate 50 seat currently held by Kevin Corbin who is running again.
With the recently adopted maps, incumbent Mike Clampitt will no longer face Joe Sam Queen for the 119th NC House seat. Instead, he’ll face Democrat Al Platt, D-Brevard, in the fall for the district that is now made up of Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties.
Districting
The Congressional map adopted by a three-panel judge will hold for this election. On Monday, the United States Supreme Court denied the request from North Carolina Republican legislators in their appeal over the congressional map.
The legislators argued the state court lacked authority to decide on the maps.
In a press release, NC Senate Leader Phil Berger responded to the news with the following statement: "We are disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowing elections under a Congressional map drawn by the conflict-ridden special masters to continue. While we're focusing on the 2022 elections, we will continue to evaluate this decision and next steps in this case.”
Case against Cawthorn
On Friday, a federal court judge blocked the effort to prevent U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (Hendersonville, R-14) from seeking re-election.
The case which was brought by voters to the Board of Elections claimed Cawthorn couldn’t hold elected office due to his alleged involvement with the Jan. 6 attack on the United States capital.
After initially filing to switch districts to what would have been the 13th district back in December, Cawthorn announced he would file for the far-west 11th district this year after the map changed.
Cawthorn will compete against several other Republicans in the primary: Chuck Edwards, Ron Honeycutt, Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez, Bruce O’Connell, Kristie Sluder, Michele V. Woodhouse and Matthew Burril.
Several Democrats are also competing for a chance at the seat Jay Carey, Katie Dean, Marco Gutierrez, Bo Hess, Bynum M. Lunsford, and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara. Plus, David Adam Coatney, libertarian has filed.
Senate seat
Richard Burr (R) will retire from the seat he’s held for three terms. A full slate of candidates across the state have filed to compete for the seat in the primary. Among them are:
Libertarian Shannon Bray; Democrats James Carr Jr., Robert Colon, Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond, Constance (Lov) Johnson, Tobias LaGrone, B.K. Maginnis, Rett Newton, Marcus W. Williams, Greg Antoine, Cheri Beasley, and Chrelle Booker; Republicans Marjorie Eastman, David Flaherty, Benjamin E. Griffitsh, Kenneth Harper Jr., Pat McCrory, Charles Kenneth Moss, Lichia Sibhatu, Debora Tshiovo, Mark Walker, Jen Banwart, Ms. Lee A. Brian, Leonard L. Bryant, Tedd Budd and Drew Bulecza.
Courts
Several seats in the court system will also be on the ballots this primary. For details, visit ncsbe.gov.