Commissioners race gears up
by Kellen Moore
Former U.S. congressional candidate Billy Kennedy has announced that he will run for Watauga County commissioner in the 2012 elections.
Kennedy, a Democrat from Vilas, hopes to occupy the District 3 seat currently held by Democrat Jim Deal.
Kennedy said Deal does not plan to run and encouraged him to seek the seat instead.
Deal could not be reached by presstime Tuesday for comment.
A farmer and a carpenter, Kennedy said he has lived in the area for 32 years.
Among the most important issues this year will be education and budget cutbacks, he said, adding that Watauga County needs leaders that move progress forward, “instead of trying to take us back.”
Kennedy ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx in 2010. He said he is looking forward to a campaign that keeps him closer to home and requires less time spent in fundraising.
“The issues that were important to me on the national level also resonate with people here in Watauga County,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
District 2
In District 2, Republican vice chairman Vince Gable also will be seeking re-election, he said in an interview this week.
Gable said he has accomplished the promises he made when he campaigned in 2010, including keeping taxes stable, paying off county debt and moving toward a consolidated 911 communications system.
The board also provided a 3 percent cost-of-living-adjustment last budget cycle, something county employees had not received in several years.
“I feel that I've been able to do a good job for the people of the county, so I want to continue in that mode,” Gable said.
At least one challenger is likely in District 2, but no one has made a formal announcement.
District 1
The final seat opening this year on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners is in District 1.
Democrat Tim Futrelle currently holds the seat and has not said publicly whether he plans to run again. Futrelle could not be reached by presstime Tuesday.
Whoever wins in the three races will join Chairman Nathan Miller and Commissioner David Blust — both Republicans — on the board.
The filing period opens Feb. 13 at noon and closes Feb. 29.
The two winning candidates with the most votes earn four-year terms, and the winning candidate with the third highest vote total earns a two-year term.
Kennedy, a Democrat from Vilas, hopes to occupy the District 3 seat currently held by Democrat Jim Deal.
Kennedy said Deal does not plan to run and encouraged him to seek the seat instead.
Deal could not be reached by presstime Tuesday for comment.
A farmer and a carpenter, Kennedy said he has lived in the area for 32 years.
Among the most important issues this year will be education and budget cutbacks, he said, adding that Watauga County needs leaders that move progress forward, “instead of trying to take us back.”
Kennedy ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx in 2010. He said he is looking forward to a campaign that keeps him closer to home and requires less time spent in fundraising.
“The issues that were important to me on the national level also resonate with people here in Watauga County,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
District 2
In District 2, Republican vice chairman Vince Gable also will be seeking re-election, he said in an interview this week.
Gable said he has accomplished the promises he made when he campaigned in 2010, including keeping taxes stable, paying off county debt and moving toward a consolidated 911 communications system.
The board also provided a 3 percent cost-of-living-adjustment last budget cycle, something county employees had not received in several years.
“I feel that I've been able to do a good job for the people of the county, so I want to continue in that mode,” Gable said.
At least one challenger is likely in District 2, but no one has made a formal announcement.
District 1
The final seat opening this year on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners is in District 1.
Democrat Tim Futrelle currently holds the seat and has not said publicly whether he plans to run again. Futrelle could not be reached by presstime Tuesday.
Whoever wins in the three races will join Chairman Nathan Miller and Commissioner David Blust — both Republicans — on the board.
The filing period opens Feb. 13 at noon and closes Feb. 29.
The two winning candidates with the most votes earn four-year terms, and the winning candidate with the third highest vote total earns a two-year term.