Three municpal elections Nov. 8
By Scott Nicholson

Three municipal elections — Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils — will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m.

In Blowing Rock, Mayor J.B. Lawrence is running unopposed for reelection. Incumbents Barbara Ball, David Wray, and Keith Tester are facing challengers Paul A. Peterson and Thomas Lee Klutz for three open seats on the Blowing Rock Town Council. The mayor of Blowing Rock serves a two-year term, while council members serve four-year terms. Voting will be held in Blowing Rock Town Hall.

In Beech Mountain, Russell Reiman, Jim Duffy, Peter K. Chamberlin, Randy Corn, Gil Adams, Jennifer Bryant-Ball, Charles Serafim and Brad Mettee are running for seats on the Beech Mountain Town Council. Adams and Chamberlin are incumbents. Voting will be held at the Beech Mountain Fire Department.

The two candidates with the most votes are elected to serve four-year terms, while the third successful candidate is elected to serve a two-year term. The mayor of Beech Mountain is elected from within the town council.

In Seven Devils, incumbents Bob Dodson, Bill Wilkinson and Kay Ehlinger are running unopposed to retain their seats on the Seven Devils Town Council. Voting will be held in the Seven Devils Town Hall.

The mayor of Seven Devils, a position currently held by Dodson, is elected from within the council. The two candidates with the most votes are elected to serve four-year terms, while the third successful candidate is elected to serve two years.

Though early, one-stop voting has been open for municipal elections, the board of elections has reported a light turnout so far.

For more information, contact the Watauga County Board of Elections at 265-8061.

*Scott Nicholson can be contacted at nicholson@wataugademocrat.com