BAKERSVILLE – Voter turnout was abysmal in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, municipal elections in Spruce Pine and Bakersville.
Incumbent Spruce Pine Mayor Darla Harding garnered 214 votes and handily defeated challenger Lori McIntyre, who received 39 votes. The 255 total votes cast in a town with 1,329 registered voters equals a 19.2 percent voter turnout.
Voter turnout in Bakersville was even lower. Three people were seeking two seats on Bakersville Town Council, and newcomer Andy Palmer received the most votes with 33, followed by 24 for incumbent council member Dr. Charles Nash. Beau Thomas, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former council member Bo Buckner, received 23. A total of 56 people voted in Bakersville, a town with 323 registered voters, which equals a voter turnout of 17.34 percent.