We continue to try and improve our services at the landfill and make the. 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. Contact Chad at chad@wilcoxtravel.com or call (828) 210-8193 for a free quote. Click HERE to update your address. We also realize school lunches are the most nutritious meals that some of our students will receive each day, and WCS was able to provide and deliver 250,000 meals during COVID-19! 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Showrooms with gas logs, water heaters and more are located in each Blue Ridge Energy district office. By treating everyone with kindness and love. As a member of the School Board, one of our most important roles is to review and approve school system policies. I also want to go back to the previous question and add that the Town of Boone plays a big part in this as well with apartments and other items they can do to help with this. I hope that everyone in our community will follow guidelines set by our local health leaders, our governor, and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Businesses have reported that business has been back to more in line with what a typical year would be. I see our small businesses as part of this development from tech companies or manufacturing, but I also see businesses like our brewing industry that can grow here as well. I should be present, listen and accept people where they are on lifes journey. Our schools do not have the funding or infrastructure to solve these problems alone. My name is Mia Seligman. 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. Job Description & How to Apply Below. McLane Drivers safely deliver and unload product from our distribution centers to our customers, and they earn great pay and . Childers emphasizes the importance of narrowing the gap between the learning lag the pandemic had on students. To promote racial equality means we must model and expect racial justice in all we do. We have accomplished so much but we still have much to do. This is a ridiculous barrier to effective action to address the much talked about digital divide, and it has an especially damaging effect on lower income families. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. How to vote | 828-265-8068 Giving them the support and structure to help them do their job and let them do their job, Fenwick said. Working in local and state government for the past 25 years has allowed me to go into our communities and see first hand many of the needs of our WCS students. The Planning Board also acts as the review board for subdivision plat approval. The State Board does not provide information about candidates for other contests, but some media outlets and advocacy groups do. Here are statements from the four candidates: Steve Combs, Ron Henries, Barbara Kinsey and Brenda. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Boone Chamber (of Commerce) has done an incredible job in helping us to provide forums for us to share and help each other. Ashcraft pointed out the policies used regarding specific reading material which parents may be uncomfortable with their children reading. The following candidates ran in the general election for Watauga County Board of Education on November 8, 2022. We do not want the Board of Education to be an institution that dictates what students are learning or reading.. For those unable to attend in person, this event will be broadcast live, in its entirety, on, Watauga County Economic Development (EDC), Watauga County Business of the Year Awards, 559 West King Street Boone, NC 28607-3536 United States. But I would like to get even two officers in every school, Cole said. Credential check will begin at 8:30. These candidates will focus on giving our schools the resources they need, supporting educators, and keeping our students safe. The following candidates ran in the general election for Watauga County Board of Education on November 8, 2022. We have helped give our local food hub the resources to expand as the demand for local food continues to go up. Email: 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. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. I will support continued strengthening of the school systems efforts to ensure strong and fair recruitment practices and a more representative workforce. We do know that we have some and lets keep in mind that one town, Blowing Rock, affords their own and so even though there are grants that are paid back to it, we still have to afford the other schools, Hanifan said. We hope that you will join us and show your support for our ever-growing party! I believe my experience with the Watauga County Planning board uniquely qualifies me for County Commissioner. When opportunities for improvements in these and related areas are identified, the School Board can and should advocate for the necessary changes with the General Assembly and others as appropriate. Click HERE for Map 2, New River 3 Voting Precinct Map with Construction Route - Click HERE, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88013088006?pwd=aHRscm5Cd25KaFU3WE9EWEtXaW5lZz09. The following questions were sent to each candidate running for a position on the Board of Education: Provided bio: My career experience includes 13 years in the Watauga County Schools, 4 years as executive director of the Childrens Council of Watauga County, 12 years with the City Managers Office of Raleigh, and 4 years with the Budget Office of the City of Durham. Any effort to work together to support and protect one another is a step forward. The landfill needs improvements to make the process safer, smoother and more user friendly for our citizens. My pronouns are she/her. What do you see as the boards roles and responsibilities? Highly educated populations with bachelor's degrees or higher tend to vote for more liberal candidates. Education equals social mobility. Im from Asheville, and my intended major is still undecided, but journalism has my heart. On Friday, September 30th the candidates for Watauga County Board of Commissioners received an email from the Blowing Rock Civic Association (BRCA) asking them to give their answer to three. In a statement noting the removal, they say that the modems were never used. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-down'); Its the skills that they need to move on.. I want to improve our Watauga Medics coverage to make response times better. Was early voting available to all voters? Much like any group or committee, these skills can be invaluable. If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required? We also partnered with the Economic Development Commission, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and Mountain BizWorks to create the Re-Energize Watauga Fund. As this event is hosted by two Chambers of Commerce, questions will allow for candidates to inform the local business community about their platform, goals, and objectives. } else { It is Imperative that you finish the Ballot in its Entirety for us to have a chance to finally CHANGE how Watauga County is Governed! We have the natural beauty and tax rates that are already attractive. James Hill- Secretary chevron.removeClass('fa-chevron-up'); What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county? What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline? Required fields are marked *. We also helped set up a fund for businesses to be able to get a loan to help them bridge the gap. All candidates are running for the Board of Education: Cole said he wants to focus on infrastructure, school safety and mental health of students. What plans do you have to help Watauga County recover from the COVID-19 pandemic? No one wants to see us overbuild. Like most of the issues we face, only more so, the systemic aspects of addressing racial equity will also require state and even federal participation. $("div.vis_widget_title").each(function(index) { The following are vote totals for candidates in Watauga County elections. Am I registered at my current address? }); Im on numerous nonprofit boards in the area and volunteer my time as well with OASIS, Hunger and Health Coalition and Hospitality House. But that means there are issues which must be. I believe that Mahatma Gandhi had it right when he wrote that a nations greatness is measured by how you treat its weakest members. No matter the community, it is imperative that we find ways to support those who struggle. We are a Carolinas Accredited Chamber by CACCE and serve over 750 members across the High Country. This is her second year with The Appalachian. I am married to Christy, a school counselor at a local elementary school, and have a 15-year old daughter,Madison, and 8-year old son, Cameron. 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. More broadly, I care about the issues of education, poverty and justice. chevron = $(this).find('i.fa-pull-right'); I believe in an eyes open approach identifying issues and bringing them to light and working towards resolutions. Each response will have a 90-second time limit and each candidate will have a 2-minute opening and closing statement. Filing for all offices for the 2022 primary was delayed in . Their direct services and their ability to help connect families to additional services in the community play a vital role in helping students succeed. Building student social skills and keeping pressure on things like attendance more relaxed is best.. The school board recently purchased land in the Valle Crucis community to replace a school that is prone to flooding. With an, increase in the population, the calls are increasing as well, so it would dramatically reduce the. Click. Time for the 2023 Watauga County Republican Party Convention! Achieving equal opportunity remains one of the greatest challenges throughout American life, and while it is obviously a national issue, much of the real work has to be done at the local level. Legal. Our school system was already a leader in implementing instructional technology, providing laptops and other devices to students well before most school systems in NC. | If you haven't registered to vote, you can use the same link to register. How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. We should continue to expand opportunities for early education to all children, with special priority for those from lower income families. A mark of a strong educational system is one that leaves no student behind and provides each student with the necessary skills and education to be successful. if ($('#vis_xs_indicator').is(':hidden') || typeof VoterInfobyState_Resized!='undefined') { For information on different ways to register to voteclick HERE. The first results posted will be the early vote and absentee ballots. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from WataugaOnline.com. The Watauga County Board of Education consists of five members elected on a nonpartisan, countywide basis, with three positions on the board open for election every two years. We have two sons: Hamilton, a senior finance major at Appalachian State University, who will graduate in December; Anderson is a freshman and is playing football for the Mountaineers and plans to major in business. However, the switch to remote instruction last spring highlighted the problem of lack of internet access in some parts of Watauga County. I would be open to the idea of an occasional town hall-style meeting to let the citizens speak concerns and ideas to the commissioners. Members of the community are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing info@boonechamber.com. It does not matter about the journey, race, ethnicity, orientation, or affiliation. 828-265-8061 Boone, NC 28607. = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. NC DOT Construction Project Maps Expansion into the county is inevitable, however it must be done in a responsible and sustainable fashion. Counties | The questions and responses below are curated from The Boone Chamber of Commerces Meet The Candidates event held at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country Oct. 6. Navigate to North Carolina 2022 local elections overviews: Monday - Friday The event is co-hosted by the Boone Area & Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce. The following questions were asked to Gary Childers, Jennie Hanifan, Chad Cole, Marshall Ashcraft, Jay Fenwick and Dustin Kerley. VoterInfobyState_Resized = true; , and through the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, View the Watauga County 2022 Meet the Candidates Forum in its entirety here, A special thank you to each of the candidates for their participation in the event, along with our venue host, Virginia Foxx (R) (I) (politely declined invite), NC House of Representatives - District 93, Ben Massey (D) (unable to attend due to a medical emergency; introductory remarks made on his behalf by wife Darlene), Beech Mountain Parks & Recreation: Recreation Attendant. For example, the county is contracted with a private firm to build a solar farm at the old landfill. We will continue to advocate for our local businesses and help facilitate relief efforts for folks in need. With virtual learning in the public school system due to the pandemic, it continues to be a challenge for students to have good Internet access during this remote school setting. Your local source for propane and heating fuels. .widget-toggle-tabs li.panel > a:after {font-family: 'Glyphicons Halflings';content: '\e113';float: right;color: grey}.widget-toggle-tabs li.panel > a.collapsed:after {content: '\e080'} I understand the money issue, believe me I do. He said he wants to make sure that the history that is being taught is not the history that America fought to get away from.. School districts | You can now updateyour address electronically if you have a North Carolina driver's license or identification card. This position will provide counseling services to our consumers. All questions will be asked by a moderator. Sign up to stay up-to-date with the WataugaOnline.com email list. Guidelines are already in place and happening, Fenwick said. I plan to remove as many restrictions and obstructions I can from local businesses so they can flourish. We are both multi-generational Watauga County natives. Available for weddings, charters, destination tours and airport shuttles. 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 . What I would like to do is reassess the type of testing that we use. If elected, it would be essential for the board to listen, do their best to understand the issues, and provide the support and care needed in making the best decision they are able. Credential check will begin at 8:30. Kayla Slade (she/her) is a junior journalism major from Charlotte, N.C. Communication towers are used by all of our county first responders. Candidate Marshall Ashcraft (Nonpartisan) Gary L. Childers (Nonpartisan) Chad Cole (Nonpartisan) Jay Fenwick (Nonpartisan) Jennie Hanifan (Nonpartisan) Dustin Cole Kerley (Nonpartisan) I have retired from obstetrics after delivering more than 1,500 babies and now continue to provide gynecological, contraceptive and prenatal needs to women across their lifespan. Watauga County Voter Records are documents that list information about a registered voters in Watauga County, North Carolina. Comments (-1) VoterInfobyState_Timeout_jquery = setTimeout(widget_load_check_jquery, 500); We can always do more for our sheriff and fire Departments as well. Please contact David Jackson at 828-264-2225 with any further questions. if (chevron.hasClass('fa-chevron-up')) { In health care, you learn the importance of listening, viewing facts and circumstances, understanding options and seeking possible solutions. While growth is necessary, it requires management with long range vision that holds development to the highest standard while protecting our natural resources and heritage. (If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC). How to run for office | I want to hear joys and concerns, ideas and hopes for our county. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-down'); My plan would be to continue with quarantining of the positive cases. I earned degrees from Wingate University, the United States Sports Academy and App State. Im on numerous nonprofit boards in the area and volunteer my time as well with OASIS, Hunger and Health Coalition and Hospitality House. The county really needs to look at petitioning the state to help us with traffic flow outside of the town of Boone. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Job in Houston - Harris County - TX Texas - USA, 77246. Also, with support from community groups and companies, hotspots have been offered to help many students gain connectivity at home. Where are the barriers to creating a better pipeline of minority role models in education and how can these barriers be addressed? The forum event allowed state and local candidates to inform the local business community about their platform, goals, and objectives. View the Watauga County 2022 Meet the Candidates Forum in its entirety here, or watch the segmented archives below. By doing this, our schools become a part of the circle of care for our children and families who struggle the most. Listing for: HealthTrust Workforce Solutions. Knowing your candidate choices in advance and being familiar with the ballot will help your voting experience go more quickly. Another service of special importance to low income families is pre-kindergarten classes. Hanifan believes the best way to succeed with transitioning is by reassessing testing techniques. What is my registered party affiliation? The issues with Internet connections have added communication barriers for our teachers who are having to work harder to be able to get the lessons out to students. Childers said he wants school resource officers in every school in Watauga County to combat potential threats to school safety. The university continues to admit more students, and while they are adding dorm space it still will be insufficient. As a board of education member, I would like to be an advocate to help find long-term solutions to these issues. I have a beautiful wife, Gina, and two wonderful children, Ava (age 8) and Henry (age 5). Polls close at 7:30 p.m. The county has been doing all we can since this started to give the community the support they need. 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