County to see shift in local leadership
The conclusion of the Republican primary has set the stage for a significant shift in the local government’s leadership, with three GOP candidates securing their spots on the ballot for the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners in the upcoming November general election.
Dale Blevins emerged as the top vote-getter, Lee Ellis secured the second spot, and incumbent Harley Masters clinched the third position. In a tightly contested race that saw a total of 3,961 votes cast across 9 precincts, Blevins led with 1,955 votes, Ellis followed with 1,652 votes, and Masters received 1,367 votes. Their victory in the primary sets up a November showdown against Democratic candidates Jan Hamilton and Ron McKinney. Candidates will be seeking to fill three seats on the board.
The election shows a potential shift in the dynamics of the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners, with voters expressing their preference for candidates who promise to address local challenges and opportunities.
Reflecting on the election, Blevins thanked voters and outlined his vision for the county’s future, emphasizing collaboration, improved public schooling, advanced educational opportunities, rural health development, internet access, industrial growth, and infrastructure upgrades.
“One or two people cannot make these things happen. It will take a whole citizen effort to get these things moving,” Blevins states.
Masters, on the other hand, remains committed to transparency, accountability, and sustainable planning.
“I am grateful I made it through the primary and will be able to participate in the general election in November. In the mean time I plan to continue working hard and focus on all the current projects we have going on in the county,” says Masters.
Ellis expressed a desire to first gain a deeper understanding of the current state of local education and industry support before setting long-term goals.
“From the outside looking in, I believe we need to address the lack of a full-time Level Three inspector,” Ellis states. Additionally, he mentioned the importance of improving public understanding of Mitchell County taxes, aiming for greater transparency and education.
In the Board of Education race, incumbent Sam Blevins finished with 2,312 votes, incumbent Brenda Sparks garnered $1,536 votes and Chad Greene finished in third place with 1,121 votes.
Blevins and Sparks will retake their seats in November since there are no other challengers for the General Election.
In the race for the N.C. State Senate District 47 Democrat Frank Patton Hughes III of Newland will challenge incumbent Ralph Hise in the November General Election and John Ford of Spruce Pine will face incumbent Dudley Greene of Newland in the race for the N.C. House of Representatives District 85.
For complete Primary Election results for Mitchell County visit er.ncsbe.gov. Select 03/5/2024 and Mitchell County.
As Mitchell County prepares for the general election on Nov. 5, the focus on community engagement and voter participation remains crucial. The candidates’ platforms highlight a collective effort towards strengthening the county’s future, underlining the importance of every vote in shaping Mitchell County’s path forward.