Swain County’s local races are contested with both Republicans and Unaffiliated candidates on the ballot for county commission - making it unique in the region. BPR reached out to all candidates on the state candidate list to fill out a short survey about priorities. If you are a candidate and would like to fill out the survey now, please reach out to news@bpr.org.
Referendum
Malt Beverage Election Off-Premises Only
To permit the "off-premises" sale only of malt beverages.
The options are: For or Against
Local Candidates
SWAIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEMBERS (REP)
Eric Watson
Republican Party
Watson BPR spoke with Parton and he declined to fill out the survey. Parton does not have a campaign website and is not active on social media.
Tanner Lawson
Republican Party
Where are you from? I have lived in Bryson City since I was five years old.
What is your top priority if elected? One of the things that I want to do if I am elected is to bring better communication among the commissioners and the community members. I believe that communication is very important to get people to understand what is going on within the county government.
What do you wish the community knew about this office? The office of a commissioner should have someone who can listen and think about every situation before jumping into a solution. Also should able to listen to each person who has a complaint, thought, and praise whether they voted for you or not.
What is one thing that you want to say to voters? I want everyone to know that I want to listen and learn. I know I don't have all the right answers, but I believe I can be a great asset to our community.
Where do you currently live?
Bryson City
Kenneth Leonard Parton
Republican Party
Parton is currently on the Swain County Board of Commissioners. BPR spoke with Parton and he declined to fill out the survey. Parton does not have a campaign website and is not active on social media.
Ben King
Unaffiliated
Where are you from? Bryson City, NC
What is your top priority if elected?
To address the multitude of concerns at the county that involve a serious lack of funding. We are a small county with a very small property tax base. While this great in the fact that it creates a unique and desirable small community to be a part of. It also means that the property taxpayers have to bear the majority of the burden when it comes to funding local government operations. When rates/taxes have been held so low for so long, it makes that burden much harder to bear in this small community. Our historically low property tax rate has put the county in a tough spot to be able to appropriately address various issues. For example, underpaid staff who are covering multiple positions will lead to a staff retention problem in the near future. Meaning there will be fewer staff to fill day to day roles, but also critical community positions related to public safety. The current financial position of the county has left us with the inability/unwillingness to provide teachers with a stipend to help offset the high cost of living in our area. This makes it difficult to fill open teaching positions, as well as retain new teachers. Just this year, many community members have expressed concerns related to adequate fire coverage/fire response across the county. It is my understanding that county leaders have made no attempts to raise these funds through a county service fee or fire tax. There are many more issues that relate back to inadequate revenues, and the “kicking the can down the road” approach has left any future county leader with tough decisions to make. The small tax increase that was passed in this year's budget was not enough to address any of the concerns I have listed above.
What do you wish the community knew about this office?
I wish the community knew everything that was going on, and at what a critical point the county was at currently. Swain County is teetering on the edge of making strides forward, or stumbling backwards. This community needs to make decisions about what kind of county they want to live in, raise their families in, build businesses in, and ultimately leave for future generations. The leaders who are elected to the local government positions have a huge impact on the daily lives of individuals in their community. However, being uninformed or lackadaisical when it comes to local government and the status of your community will lead to less understanding when tough decisions have to be made. In every city and every county across the country, I believe more people should be informed about the community they live in and the problems the community is facing. Then we must be a part of the discussion to develop solutions that will lead to proactive leadership and a healthy, thriving community!
What is one thing that you want to say to voters?
I care about the future of Swain County, it is my home…and it is where we have chosen to start a family and build a life. I have hope that voters want to see Swain County become a thriving community, that others are jealous of. Not only that, but I will always listen to all sides of an issue so that my decisions are made with the most information possible. If elected, I will not shy away from making a tough decision that is in the best interest of the county's future.
Where do you currently live?
Bryson City
Bobby Jenkins
Unaffiliated
Where are you from? Bryson City, NC
What is your top priority if elected?
Spend tax dollars wisely
What do you wish the community knew about this office? Be transparent about everything
What is one thing that you want to say to voters? Make honest decisions and treat everyone fair
Where do you currently live?
Swain County
SWAIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (vote for three)
Cody White
Republican Party
White is currently on the Swain County School Board. He was chosen in 2023 as the Board of Education Chair. White does not have a campaign website and is not active on social media. White did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
Mitchell Carson
Republican Party
Carson is currently on the Swain County School Board. Carson does not have a campaign website and is not active on social media. Carson did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
Casey Davis
Republican Party
Davis does not have a campaign website and is not active on social media. Davis did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
Aubrey DeLone Field
Independent Party
Where are you from? Philadelphia, PA
What is your top priority if elected?
Add Environmental Education, gardening and farm education to every classroom in Swain county. I would also like to reduce the use of all devices in school!
What do you wish the community knew about this office? That we have to advocate for the education that we deserve for our children so they grow up as capable, self sufficient adults.
What is one thing that you want to say to voters? I studied Environmental Education at Warren Wilson College in 2006-2010. Since then, I have worked managing production farms and teaching children, teenagers and college level students how to grow their own food and be self sufficient.
Where do you currently live? Bryson City, NC
Soil and Water Sanitation District
Buck Jenkins
Nonpartisan race
Jenkins is running uncontested. He does not have a campaign website or public social media. He did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
Whittier Sanitary District (vote for two) (In Swain and Jackson districts)
Bridgit Parris Nations
Nonpartisan race
Nations does not have a campaign website or public social media. She did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
Bo Hollifield
Nonpartisan race
Hollifield does not have a campaign website or public social media. He did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
Randy Nations
Nonpartisan race
Nations does not have a campaign website or public social media. He did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey.
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