Nine candidates file for election on first day
by Kellen Moore
The filing process for candidates running for office began
smoothly Monday, with nine candidates filing within the first 45 minutes.
While several candidates already had made their intentions known, there also were a few surprises in the mix.
Candidates have until noon Feb. 29 to file for office at the Watauga County Board of Elections, located on the ground level of the Watauga County Courthouse.
These candidates had filed by presstime Tuesday:
N.C. House of Representatives
Cullie Tarleton, a Democrat from Blowing Rock, filed for the District 93 House of Representatives seat currently held by Republican Jonathan Jordan.
Tarleton, a former broadcast executive, previously held the seat before a narrow defeat by Jordan in 2010.
Jordan is an attorney from Ashe County and currently serves as deputy majority whip.The winning candidate will serve a two-year term.
Register of deeds
JoAnn Townsend, a Republican from Boone, filed to retain her seat as Watauga County register of deeds.
Townsend has served in the role since 2004 and has been employed in the office since 1983, she said.
The register of deeds serves a four-year term.
Watauga Board of Commissioners (three seats)
District 1: Democrat Virginia Roseman was the only candidate to file Monday for the District 1 seat. Roseman currently works with the Southern Appalachian Historical Association, which oversees Horn in the West and Hickory Ridge Living History Museum.
The seat is currently held by Democrat Tim Futrelle, who has not said publicly whether he plans to run.
District 2: In District 2, Democrat John Welch will run against Republican Vince Gable. Welch works in the Appalachian State University athletic department and currently serves on the Watauga County Board of Education.
Gable, who currently holds the seat, is a retired attorney and former deputy chief of Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department.
District 3: Democrat Billy Kennedy filed Monday for the seat currently held by Democrat Jim Deal. Kennedy is a farmer and carpenter whose last foray into politics was a run for U.S. House of Representatives against Virginia Foxx.
Deal said earlier this year he did not intend to run again.
The two winning candidates with the most votes will serve four-year terms, and the winning candidate with the third most votes will serve a two-year term.
Watauga Board of Education (three seats)
Three new candidates filed Monday for seats on the Watauga County Board of Education. The top two candidates receive four-year terms, while the third-place candidate receives a two-year term.
Jay Fenwick, an ASU professor in computer science, is the immediate past president of the Watauga Education Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for Watauga County Schools.
Deborah Greene is owner of Integrated Pensions, which provides consulting and financial services to businesses, and is well-known for her work as a local government watchdog.
Barbara Kinsey is a former English and Latin teacher who taught for more than 38 years in public schools and at ASU.
Current board chairwoman Deborah Miller said she does not intend to run again, and board member John Welch is running for county commissioner. Board member Steve Combs, who holds the final expiring term, has not yet said publicly whether he will run again.
While several candidates already had made their intentions known, there also were a few surprises in the mix.
Candidates have until noon Feb. 29 to file for office at the Watauga County Board of Elections, located on the ground level of the Watauga County Courthouse.
These candidates had filed by presstime Tuesday:
N.C. House of Representatives
Cullie Tarleton, a Democrat from Blowing Rock, filed for the District 93 House of Representatives seat currently held by Republican Jonathan Jordan.
Tarleton, a former broadcast executive, previously held the seat before a narrow defeat by Jordan in 2010.
Jordan is an attorney from Ashe County and currently serves as deputy majority whip.The winning candidate will serve a two-year term.
Register of deeds
JoAnn Townsend, a Republican from Boone, filed to retain her seat as Watauga County register of deeds.
Townsend has served in the role since 2004 and has been employed in the office since 1983, she said.
The register of deeds serves a four-year term.
Watauga Board of Commissioners (three seats)
District 1: Democrat Virginia Roseman was the only candidate to file Monday for the District 1 seat. Roseman currently works with the Southern Appalachian Historical Association, which oversees Horn in the West and Hickory Ridge Living History Museum.
The seat is currently held by Democrat Tim Futrelle, who has not said publicly whether he plans to run.
District 2: In District 2, Democrat John Welch will run against Republican Vince Gable. Welch works in the Appalachian State University athletic department and currently serves on the Watauga County Board of Education.
Gable, who currently holds the seat, is a retired attorney and former deputy chief of Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department.
District 3: Democrat Billy Kennedy filed Monday for the seat currently held by Democrat Jim Deal. Kennedy is a farmer and carpenter whose last foray into politics was a run for U.S. House of Representatives against Virginia Foxx.
Deal said earlier this year he did not intend to run again.
The two winning candidates with the most votes will serve four-year terms, and the winning candidate with the third most votes will serve a two-year term.
Watauga Board of Education (three seats)
Three new candidates filed Monday for seats on the Watauga County Board of Education. The top two candidates receive four-year terms, while the third-place candidate receives a two-year term.
Jay Fenwick, an ASU professor in computer science, is the immediate past president of the Watauga Education Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for Watauga County Schools.
Deborah Greene is owner of Integrated Pensions, which provides consulting and financial services to businesses, and is well-known for her work as a local government watchdog.
Barbara Kinsey is a former English and Latin teacher who taught for more than 38 years in public schools and at ASU.
Current board chairwoman Deborah Miller said she does not intend to run again, and board member John Welch is running for county commissioner. Board member Steve Combs, who holds the final expiring term, has not yet said publicly whether he will run again.