ashe

It looks like Jason did approve my attempt to repost the endorsements. I do want to apologize to the lovely marital partners of McNeil and Howell for my use of the term “old lady”. I was trying to figure out how to get my post to go through, and at one time for reasons we won’t discuss, I wasn’t allowed to use w. if. e.

Let’s bump this for a reminder to everyone of who to vote for tomorrow.

US House of Representatives District 05

Dillion Gentry

I was a supporter of Ginny when she was in Raleigh. She was swimming in the right sized pond for her abilities, and knew how to look after her constituents. Unfortunately, she's been out of her league since the day she set foot in DC. She has been behind the times, small minded, and constantly reflects poorly on those of us she represents. But the biggest reason to vote against Foxx, is she is 74. The odds of her dying get higher with each passing day. And with a Democrat in the Governor’s mansion, she will be replaced with some ASU liberal.

Dillion offers a younger conservative perspective. He isn't out of touch with 80% of the people in his district still breathing, and he was a Marine. I once knew a Marine who said his two heros were Chesty Puller and Mahatma Gandhi. Chesty because he believed in being ready to fight, and Gandhi because he believed in doing everything to avoid the fight if possible. Since then, most Marines I've met seemed to share this same level of common sense.

NC State Senate District 45

Shirley Randleman

This is a very simple and straightforward one. Let's elect someone that wasn't hand picked by Franklin Graham. Graham should take the advice of his own father and stay out of politics. Our current state senator and her predecessor were both Samaritan’s Purse employees, selected by Franklin to go to Raleigh.

NC House of Representatives District 093

Jonathan C. Jordan

This is another fairly simple choice. As the old saying goes, stick with the evil you know over the evil you don't. While I cant give Jonathan an A+ grade, he has remembered to serve the people that he represents. As has been proven by multiple testimonies on this very site, when people have contacted him with a problem, he has listened and worked to find them a solution. Overall, he gets a high passing grade.

District Attorney District 34

Tom E. Horner

While you may be thinking Horner is running unopposed, there's no reason to even worry about voting for him, remember a couple things. He is largely responsible for getting rid of the bumbling arm of the law, Sheriff Bufurt, and his actions also helped force Elmer Fudd to resign from the county commission. Make sure to punch this one to let him know we appreciate him.

Clerk Of Superior Court

Pam Barlow

gain, another unopposed ticket. But she stood up to Bufurt and did her part to expose his stupidity and bullying to the citizens of Ashe. give her a vote to say THANKS!

County Commissioner

William Sands

I've never been a Sands disciple. I did always feel his involvement with the ACSO and serving as a commissioner was a conflict. But, at the same time, his record has shown to have the county and its citizens in his best interest. I've seen nothing from him that looked like he was voting for his own reward (Unlike Rose)

Todd McNeill

Todd has had the brief opportunity to already show us signs of him being intelligent and level headed while serving as the appointed commissioner to the seat that Elmer Fudd left vacant. He is educated, runs his own business, and has made himself accessible to the voters. He has made his contact info very public and regularly publishes when he will be in the county office on his facebook page if someone wants to speak to him in person. And he’s got a hot old lady

Leave the third one blank

Previously the third choice was a coin toss. I’ve since decided none of the other choices deserve the vote. Skip them.

Register of Deeds

Deaett Roten

Yeah, she's another unopposed incumbent. But I've never found any reason to complain against her, and rumor was she had her own run-in with Bufurt. Im for anyone he didn't like.

Sheriff

B. Phil Howell

OK, this one took a lot of time and consideration to make a decision. Ive always made my issues with his handling of the Houck shooting known. A good leader should have probably handled a bit more diplomatically. But after much research and review, I believe he also has learned from the events and he has to live with the results at night. As for his qualifications, his list way out weighs his competitors. For starters, he has lived here more than the minimum required time frame and knows his way around and knows the residents of the county. On top of that, he has a bachelors of science degree, experience, and an in depth hands on knowledge of technology. In the 21st century, technology is becoming more and more a part of the law enforcement world, on both sides of the coin, and a sheriff that understands it is a good thing. He also has experience as an administrator, running the dispatch center, implemented and managed the Backup Plan, and many more duties managing subordinates and programs. His youth is also an advantage as he still has commitments to pay for, like raising two kids and putting them through school and paying off a 30 year mortgage. Whereas other candidates are very likely to get the required time in to collect a second pension and call it quits. And he also has a hot old lady

There is enough evidence in his emails and texts to fire him and not have to pay him a dime. I hope that three of them get the balls to finally send him back to Caldwell county.

Sand could very well have Yearick in mind when he mentions a change in leadership. I also believe the bad choices of former Commission Boards show very poor leadership and believe Sands knows this. Three Commissioners voted to give Yearick his extremely generous severance package. Then Yearick in turn gives Roark his maintenance supervisor position, both of which Sands opposed. Next came the vote to install Buchanan and we all know how that turned out.

I think you have hit the nail on the head, Karma. Several on this site have been calling for Yearick's removal for a long time.

I believe Sands is referring to the county manager whose leadership helped put Ashe County in the current predicament of having several lawsuits because "it's the cost of doing business" as Yearick was quoted in the JP. He has a penchant for being a spendthrift as well.

I believe that Sands has been the Chair since the last election.

Ashe County Line has published an interview with Commissioner Sands.

This stood out to me:

ACL: What is the least effective?
Sands: Lack of Leadership

Then the next question he answers that By changing Leadership.

Hasn't Sands been the Chairman of the Commissioners of the last few years. Yes I know he got outvoted, but if the problem is leadership and he thinks the solution is changing leadership, and he's the leader you have to wonder if he thought these answers through really.....

The one name I haven’t heard much that kinda surprises

Maybe. I quit following most of his antics since he left office. But it’s funny you brought him up. Jack and I were just discussing earlier today that the bank still hasn’t sold his house after forclosing 4 years ago. He probably has them tied up in court over it trying to say they used the wrong color ink and the law is void.

I’m talking big picture, not just issues with his property and sleeping in barns. Weren’t he and his daughter involved in some domestic dispute with a baby daddy?

I’d say Fannie Mae disagrees with you about Price being entertaining

While Price was a trainwreck, he provided loads of quality entertainment. I’d take him over Perry, Rose, Roark or Poe. At least he had pinache and personality. I prefer blatantly obvious lunatics over the closet types.

The fact that Blackburn, Cox, Miller, and Dix have not done anything to take advantage of social media or the internet to promote their campaigns shows just how out of touch with modern society they are. It shows they have little if anything to offer in the 21st century. The fact that they don’t comprehend that even for local elections, in this age voters expect to be able to look up a candidate’s platform on the internet. And that their not having an online presence makes people feel they aren’t serious about running for office.

If they democrat party wants to have a shot at putting someone on the county commissioners, they should have found a person young enough to understand modern society, and has a hot wife. Hot wives go along way to help getting endorsements.

Just remember Richard Blackburn is guaranteed to be on the ballot this fall. The commissioner discussion should be more about getting three descent Republican candidates for commission. I agree Richard would be an excellent choice, and I'm inclined, just as I have in the past, to vote for him. But if his D label is too much to overcome we need descent human beings on the GOP side. No more Roses, Perrys, Roarks, Poes, or God forbid, Prices. While there's no guarantees I believe Dix would be a safe choice, and would not be an embarrassment to the county. .

Totally get it Fins, it really is just a coin flip since nothing is definite with our choices, but since I do know Dix I think your results from casting lots is spot on.

Change his contract or just pay him off. They had no problem blowing 350 thousand on a lawsuit they were told they couldn't win. I still say elmer fudd led that battle for politics and favors only. Its long past time for him to have been back in Caldwell county where he lives.

A lot of people wouldn’t have voted for Bufurt. As for the county manager, there’s only so much the commissioners can do given his contract.

I have to agree with Sassy on this one Fins. Blackburn is intelligent, knowledgeable and would use common sense and most importantly he would never have voted for Bufurt and would never keep letting that jack*** of a county manager continue to wreak havoc. Four is better than than three.

Common sense above party only works now because they are all of the same party. So there is no crossing over or rebelling against party lines.

I think the make up of the board will put common sence above party. Sands , Rhodes and McNeill already do this. The addition of Blackburn will make the vote 4 to 1. Hardly ineffectual. She ought to just go ahead and resign.