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Two Republican runoffs are scheduled for May 30

By Carey Phillips
North Carolina Republicans will have a chance to head back to the polls May 30 for a runoff to determine party nominees for commissioner of labor and commissioner of agriculture.

John Miller, a China Grove alderman, has called for a runoff against State. Rep. Cherie Berry in the labor commissioner race. The winner will face Democrat Doug Berger in November.

Tom Davidson, a Durham agribusiness consultant, has requested a runoff against Steve Troxler, a Guilford County farmer and businessman, for commissioner of agriculture. The winner will meet Democrat Meg Phipps in November.

Berry polled 39 percent of the vote statewide in the May 2 primary, just short of the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a possible runoff, while Miller had 31 percent. Troxler led Davidson 28 percent to 24 percent.

With turnout at just over 12 percent in Jackson County during the May 2 primary, an even smaller number of voters is expected for the runoff. Voters registered as Republican and unaffiliated may participate in the runoff; however, unaffiliated voters who cast a ballot in the Democratic primary will not be eligible for the runoff.

Lisa Lovedahl-Lehman, director of elections for Jackson County, said the county's cost for the primary was around $40,000, and the runoff cost would be close to that.

Republicans who voted absentee May 2 will be sent an absentee ballot for the second primary if they have already made a request. Others may request an absentee ballot or vote one-stop at the Board of Elections office if they will be out of the county or unable to go to the polls on election day. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot to be mailed is May 23. One-stop voting will end May 26. Absentee ballots must be returned by May 29.

Call the Board of Elections office at 586-7538 for more information on absentee and one-stop voting.

Most of the changes found in last Thursday's canvass from Tuesday's unofficial returns were from provisional ballots, according to Lovedahl-Lehman.

In a race of particular local interest, final official totals showed State Rep. Phil Haire of Sylva way out in front in Jackson County for the Democratic nomination for two seats from the 52nd District. The Sylva attorney had 1,533 votes to 533 for Haywood County Commissioner Mary Ann Enloe. Haire was an easy winner districtwide with Enloe taking the nomination for the other seat. Rick Lee had 484 votes in Jackson County, while Charles Starnes polled 465. They are both from Haywood County.

Haire and Enloe will face Republicans Marge Carpenter of Haywood County and Jesse Sigmon of Madison County in November.

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