Heated races in all corners of the Unifour build on voter and challenger frustration
May 4, 2008
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Seven big races are dominating the Catawba Valley political scene, and on Tuesday voters will pick their parties' nominees for the general election in November.
Dozens of candidates are vying for seats on boards of commissioners across the Unifour, and four others are competing in two N.C. Senate districts. U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry is also facing a Republican challenger, while two Democrats vie for their party's nomination for the House seat.
Here's your guide to help you prepare before casting that ballot.
Caldwell commissioners
Eight Republicans and five Democrats are vying to run for one of three open seats on the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners in one of the region's most heated races.
Challengers say they are frustrated with decisions made by commissioners in the past year, ranging from the county manager's salary to building renovations. Though they point to what they say are missteps by the board, most challengers agree that the biggest reason they're running is this year's 22.2 percent hike in property taxes.
GOP incumbents Faye Higgins and John Thuss will face challengers Clay Bollinger, Rob Bratcher, Ben Griffin, Steven Fekete, Bill Oxford and Arnold Wilson.
Democrats Randy Church, Jerry Coffey, L.C. Coonse, Timothy Shore and Barbara Weiller are hoping to secure their party's nomination.
Catawba commissioners
Catawba County commissioners knew when they raised the property tax rate last year that the decision wouldn't sit well with some constituents.
The increase, which came in a tax revaluation year that raised most owners' property values, continues to be an issue as two commissioners run for re-election. Commissioners voted to raise the property tax rate 9 percent last year.
Incumbents Barbara Beatty and Dan Hunsucker are competing against challengers Jack Beach and Phillip Parlier for the Republican Party's nominations. The winners face Democrat George McClellan in the fall.
The current five-member board of commissioners is all Republican.
Burke commissioners
Four Republicans and four Democrats are seeking their parties' nominations to run for one of three open seats on the board, and all say recruiting industry and finding ways to replenish jobs in an area once controlled by furniture and hosiery factories are paramount.
Incumbents Maynard Taylor and Jack Carroll are facing two other Republicans, Johnnie Carswell and Gene Huffman, in Tuesday's primary. Republican commissioner Wesley Abele, elected in 2004, is not seeking a second term.
Democratic challengers - Bruce Hawkins Sr., Steven Smith, Leonard Ray and John Pascal - are also hoping to go on to the general election in November.
Alexander commissioners
Alexander County is seeing one of its most competitive elections in years as candidates in both major political parties seek two seats on the all-Republican board of county commissioners.
Incumbents William Hammer and Larry Yoder, both Republicans, are up against two Republican challengers, Eric Bumgarner and Ryan Mayberry.
Five Democrats are running in the primary: Lisa Rudisill Bradley, Glenn Deal Jr., Scott Mitchell, Danny Price and Cody Teague.
The top two vote-getters in each party advance to the November general election.
Republicans have dominated the board since 2002, when voters put Democrats out of power.
N.C. Senate District 42
Veteran state Sen. Austin Allran of Hickory is facing a serious challenge in Catawba County commissioners' Chairman Kitty Barnes of Terrell. While he has easily defeated foes of the past, this year's matchup is particularly competitive.
No Democrats filed to run, so the winner is headed for a two-year term representing District 42, which covers Catawba County and part of Iredell County.
Allran said his tenure proves he's represented his constituents' values and that they appreciate his conservatism, honesty, conviction and common-sense approach.
Barnes said she would provide vision and work with both parties to benefit the district's economy. Her record, she said, proves she can do that.
N.C. Senate District 44
The Democratic primary race for the 44th Senate District has a political newcomer who has spent three years preparing for a bid and a former commissioner who says his people skills make him the best pick.
Former Marine officer and truck driver Danny Hefner of Lenoir and retired schoolteacher and former Burke County commissioner Jim Cates of Morganton are vying for the Democratic nomination for the seat, which represents Burke and Caldwell counties.
The winner will face Republican Jim Jacumin, who is seeking his third term.
U.S. House, 10th District
A retired military judge is challenging U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry for the Republican party's nomination in the race for the 10th Congressional District seat.
Two Democrats, a retired businessman and an attorney, are also hoping to claim the seat.
Republican Lance Sigmon and McHenry are vying for their party's nomination, while Steve Ivester and Daniel Johnson seek the Democratic nod.
Sigmon is a retired military trial judge now in private law practice. Steve Ivester is a retired Hickory businessman and engineer, and Johnson is a former Navy ensign who made national headlines in 1999 after he lost his legs trying to save a fellow sailor.
-Staff Writer Hannah Mitchell contributed
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