Your email address will not be published. I plan to remove as many restrictions and obstructions I can from local businesses so they can flourish. U.S. President | Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Accurate voter rolls are maintained by removing voters who have moved or died or are otherwise ineligible to vote in that jurisdiction, according to the . The third thing I think is that were at a time now when we have to examine very carefully the forces that are trying to influence what we teach and how we teach in our schools.. Its very important to mention that students have been affected also, socially and emotionally due to the isolation and medium theyve experienced. Kerley emphasized the need for communication about book replacement policies, explaining how parents should be in the know. Provided bio: I am a native of Watauga County and have worked for App State Athletics since 2001. The founder and editor was Joseph F. Spainhour (1850-1939) who, in the first issues, also offered his services as an attorney. In working with others, a plan is developed, making adjustments when necessary. Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters? I have also taken great pride in offering open and honest government for all citizens. Watauga County Democratic Party The Party of All the People! Lastly, social services continues to be underfunded by the state and we are having to make up the difference. Watauga County Voter Records are documents that list information about a registered voters in Watauga County, North Carolina. Our members in Watauga County have endorsed a slate of trustworthy public-school advocates for the Watauga County school board. As a candidate for County Commission, I hope to serve more people in my community utilizing the skills I have learned as a health care provider in our county. Our Blue Ridge Mountains and pristine rivers are treasures of the High Country and should be valued as such. Comments (-1) }); 163, 336-846-2421, Lenoir: 100 Cooperative Way, 828-758-4401. The county looks at the overall area of Watauga County. Fenwick discussed the multifaceted process teachers in the county use to make decisions on what children are reading in classrooms. If you haven't registered to vote, you can use the same link to register. I am very proud of my record and will continue to work each day to make Watauga County a desirable place to live, learn, work and visit. Copyright 2023 - Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Eric Eller - Member We must continue to support this vital work. However, the switch to remote instruction last spring highlighted the problem of lack of internet access in some parts of Watauga County. Hanifan believes the best way to succeed with transitioning is by reassessing testing techniques. } I want to improve our Watauga Medics coverage to make response times better. These measures help, but they do not solve the fundamental problem. County elections and candidates November 8, 2022 (General) Watauga Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 1 Angela Laws King (D) Todd Castle (R) Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 3 Billy Kennedy (D) Braxton Eggers (R) Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 4 Larry Turnbow (D) Melissa Goins Tausche (R) I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. You can find more information about this position and an online application by clicking here. . Required fields are marked *. The school system has done what it can to address this need by enlisting the support of internet service providers (ISPs) and it is also redirecting significant funds to pay for some families to receive access. Continue to support them any way that we possibly can- through food programs and educational opportunities. Kaitlyn Potochnik (she/her) is a sophomore journalism major with a sociology minor from Wake Forest, NC. Ive seen and tried to come together to a happy medium and common ground, Kerley said. Job in Irving - Dallas County - TX Texas - USA , 75062. Work with our local commissioners and representatives to provide funding for this. This forum is not intended to be a debate between candidates, but rather an opportunity for the citizenry to hear each candidates position on topics important to all. Boone, NC 28607. Healthcare. Its the skills that they need to move on.. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, December 16, 1926, Page PAGE TWO, Image 2, brought to you by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC, and the National Digital Newspaper Program. Maybe myself and interested App State students could work together to raise funds to help cover some of these unpaid lunch costs? Another major effort has been focused on trying to provide better access to technology for online instruction, specifically high speed internet access. This will be a costly endeavor, and the county will have to pay for it. The Planning Board also acts as the review board for subdivision plat approval. For example, the county is contracted with a private firm to build a solar farm at the old landfill. North Carolina requires citizens to register with the Secretary of State in order to vote in local, North Carolina, and federal elections. Fax: One thing that most citizens do not know is that the Towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils all have authority for the projects in their town limits. What is your number one goal if elected to the board of education? We will be convening at the Watauga County Courthouse, in Courtroom 1 on March 11th, 2023 to elect officers, vote on resolutions, and rally the base to build on our successes from the 2022 Elections! Giving them the support and structure to help them do their job and let them do their job, Fenwick said. Contact Chad at chad@wilcoxtravel.com or call (828) 210-8193 for a free quote. The forum event allowed state and local candidates to inform the local business community about their platform, goals, and objectives. 828-265-8068 The mission of WCS is to be the best place to work and learn in North Carolina. I am committed to working to provide a safe educational environment for faculty, staff, and students of WCS and maintaining up-to-date infrastructure and facilities. As a board of education member, I will do all I can to be present for students, families, and staff. We are starting the planning and construction phase of the new Valle Crucis school, which is exciting. We also have an excellent school system, which includes Appalachian, that companies look for. A special thank you to each of the candidates for their participation in the event, along with our venue host Appalachian Theatre, and our media partners at SkyBest TV and High Country Radio. Our school board cannot directly cure this problem, but we can and should advocate for the legislative changes and public investments needed to achieve a lasting solution. Ashcraft also discussed the need to address the countys growing population and provide support services for mental health in order to de-escalate tensions that can lead to violence in schools. What do you see as the boards roles and responsibilities? I also teach an adult Sunday school class. Click the links below to learn more: Click here to use Ballotpedia's sample ballot to find every election that Ballotpedia has on file for your address. WATAUGA COUNTY North Carolina. Monday - Friday A few of the needs I see in our county include: repairing and replacing our aging school buildings, affordable housing, expanding broadband to rural communities, supporting renewable energy such as wind and solar. All memberships are company based and individuals cannot join BACC. It will take dedication and collaboration to solve the problems with connectivity that face so many areas today. How do you plan to promote racial equality in the Watauga County Public School System? Questions will be asked by a panel of moderators. If I had to choose just one goal, it would be that I will be an effective, supportive and accessible board of education member for the nearly seven hundred employees and four thousand students. We should continue to expand opportunities for early education to all children, with special priority for those from lower income families. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization, and is not affiliated with any municipal or county government. Toggle navigation Menu My name is Mia Seligman. During a pandemic, this rings even more true. to elect officers, vote on resolutions, and rally the base to build on our successes from the 2022 Elections! Management. But that means there are issues which must be. My name is Ronny Holste. It is difficult to determine the course of the pandemic in the coming months but Watauga County must position itself to respond to any challenge that may come our way. Moderators David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Chamber of Commerce, and Omer Tomlinson, Co-Chair of the BACC's Government Relations Committee, posed questions to candidates from audience submission, along with suggestions from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Community and Government Committee. Full Time position. For the past eight years I have had the pleasure of serving on the Watauga County Planning Board. Watauga County Schools has provided laptops and technology to every student who has a need. What were the early voting start and end dates? One of the most important efforts has been to continue offering the opportunity for free school meals when schools have been closed, including delivery of these meals by school buses and offering to-go meals at selected sites. The county has to encourage building and development precisely because Appalachian State University keeps expanding. Knowing your candidate choices in advance and being familiar with the ballot will help your voting experience go more quickly. If I am elected County Commissioner, I am committed to work unreservedly for all citizens of Watauga County to ensure that our law enforcement, first responders, our school system and all. I was elected to the Watauga County Board of Education in 2010 and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and 2016. } else { Required fields are marked *. This is another area where state action and in this case, significant direct state funding is likely to be needed to make substantial progress. The event is co-hosted by the Boone Area & Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce. We need a five-year plan so that citizens can know if they have a medical emergency, they will receive care and transport as quickly as possible. Im a fan of having options for kids, if somebody thinks something is not appropriate they should have options to choose from, Kerley said. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. if (typeof VoterInfobyState_Toggle === 'undefined') { In health care, you learn the importance of listening, viewing facts and circumstances, understanding options and seeking possible solutions. Job specializations: HR/Recruitment Recruiter; . I want to continue working on improving, our broadband in this county we still have areas without any coverage and others with. We continue to have demands from the state that affect our social services and working to fund them. These routine processes are required by state and federal laws. He said he wants to make sure there are student resource officers in every school, as well as making sure that counselors are available to students when needed. The Town of Boone has made it nearly impossible and prohibitivly expensive to build within the city limits so the growth will be in the county. Greet and host candidates during the day and provide required information to all candidates. Their direct services and their ability to help connect families to additional services in the community play a vital role in helping students succeed. We are looking forward traveling with you in 2023! Our youngest child is a high school senior graduating in May of 2022 and is ready to further his education. Federal courts | Education equals social mobility. Candidates must be prepared to take office July 1, 2023. Any effort to work together to support and protect one another is a step forward. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-down'); The county really needs to look at petitioning the state to help us with traffic flow outside of the town of Boone. Now Hiring CDL-A Delivery Truck Drivers! Ashcraft pointed out the policies used regarding specific reading material which parents may be uncomfortable with their children reading. } Nazi flag raised outside Temple of the High Country, campus and community respond, Opinion: You cant separate the art and the artist, Boone Barbies light up Ransoms final week, Mavis Staples brings positive vibrations to the High Country, Mountaineers enter conference tournament as 9th seed, Mile walk in heels brings awareness, funding to OASIS, Boy Band Night brings pop favorites to Legends, State Board certifies election results, recount results, Watauga County Board of Elections certifies 2022 election results, 2022 Election: Federal, state, county unofficial results, Polls open at Plemmons Student Union for Election Day, Meet the Candidates: Board of commissioners and sheriff, Meet the Candidates: North Carolina House of Representatives, Meet the 2022 Midterm Election candidates, Election Day: Tips and important information, App State College Democrats host democratic county commissioner candidates, discuss voting, The Student News Site of Appalachian State University, Your email address will not be published. State law currently prohibits local government from directly providing internet access, even in most kinds of partnerships with ISPs. It is imperative that they know the board members both care about their dedication and sacrifice and understand that the board of education will support them in making the best decisions for our students. What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline? Toggle navigation Menu I hold true to treating others as I would like to be treated. if (document.readyState === 'complete') { Our board has prioritized investments in improving Watauga County Schools facilities, expanding public safety services by adding ambulance coverage and improving emergency communication infrastructure. 842 W. King St, Suite 6 First thing that comes to mind since weve been dealing with this a lot lately is the need for improving our facilities. In health care, you learn the importance of listening, viewing facts and circumstances, understanding options and seeking possible solutions. } else { The pandemic has unearthed several shortfalls in local communities across the state and connectivity is one of the largest gaps we face. Another service of special importance to low income families is pre-kindergarten classes. The Watauga County Planning Board is made up of seven members appointed by the County Commissioners. if ($('#vis_xs_indicator').is(':hidden')){ The current antenna is part of an antiquated system that is in dire need of an upgrade. I have served on the Appalachian Board of Trustees as the staff representative. Board candidates file for election in January and the field is narrowed to six candidates during the May primary election. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-down'); Watauga County Board of Elections PO Box 528 Boone, NC 28607 Physical Address: Watauga County Board of Elections 842 W. King St, Suite 6 Boone, NC 28607 Hours of Operations: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. I want to continue dialogue with the representatives in Raleigh. Hanifan also emphasized the need to keep agenda and political conversations out of childrens education. VoterInfobyState_Timeout_jquery = setTimeout(widget_load_check_jquery, 500); Candidate Marshall Ashcraft (Nonpartisan) Gary L. Childers (Nonpartisan) Chad Cole (Nonpartisan) Jay Fenwick (Nonpartisan) Jennie Hanifan (Nonpartisan) Dustin Cole Kerley (Nonpartisan) Is made up of seven members appointed by the County Commissioners and have worked for App state Athletics since.... To expand opportunities for early education to all children, with special priority for those from lower income families by... Pride in offering open and honest government for all citizens of Trustees as the staff representative i elected! However, the County Commissioners the state and connectivity is one of new! 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