Blanton drops from No. 1 to 3rd top vote-getter in Board of Ed. race; King elected newest County Commissioner
By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent
POLITICS / CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. – Local Republicans emerged victorious in several of Cleveland County’s most closely watched local races Tuesday night, while taking a beating in state and national contests, in an election that brought major political developments across North Carolina and the country.
Among the night’s biggest developments was Democrat Roy Cooper’s victory over Republican Michael Whatley in the race for the U.S. Senate, along with Democrat Lakesha Womack’s narrow victory over incumbent Republican Tim Moore in North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District and Board of Education Member Danny Blanton sinking to third out of four school board seats up for election; a politician who usually garners the most votes for in a school board race, since first elected about 15 years ago, seems to be waning in popularity by his audience.
Cleveland County voters also decided contests for not only the Board of Education, but the Board of Commissioners and other offices, while legislative races involving portions of Cleveland and other neighboring counties also produced results worth watching.
With all 21 Cleveland County precincts reporting, the results showed strong Republican performances across local contests.
School Board: Blanton finishes third; Queen placed back on the Chess game board
Perhaps one of the more noteworthy developments came in the Cleveland County Board of Education race, where longtime vote-getter Danny Lee Blanton finished third among six candidates competing for four seats.
Blanton, who has frequently been the county’s highest vote-getters in previous elections, received 18,653 votes, or 17.92 percent of the vote.
Aaron Bridges led the field with 19,624 votes (18.85 percent), followed by Ronnie Grigg with 19,105 votes (18.35 percent).
Blanton finished ahead of fellow Republican Robert Queen, who received 17,957 votes (17.25 percent) about 700 votes behind Blanton.
Democratic candidates Coleman Hunt and Jenny White finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Hunt received 15,326 votes (14.72 percent), while White received 13,430 votes (12.90 percent).
The top four candidates secured the available seats.
Blanton’s third-place finish represents a notable change in a county election where he has traditionally been one of the strongest vote-getters.
“I couldn’t have done this without my great poll workers who were out there campaigning for me; they made this happen and so did the people who believe in me enough to vote for me. We’re in this together and I will always be there for you,” Blanton said. “Whether you voted for me - or not - It doesn’t matter. I will stand for everyone and the children, staff and taxpayers of Cleveland County. I’ll still always be your voice and feel free to call me anytime in confidence.”
Robert Queen, who at one time served as chairman of the board and will be returning to the school board, stated, “I appreciate the support of Cleveland County voters to allow me to serve on the Board of Education once again and look forward to continuing the good work of Cleveland County Schools.”
Top vote-getter of the night, Aaron Bridges also thanked his supporters and promised to remain focused and dedicated to the position.
“I am humbled by the support given. I will continue to work hard to better our school district to create opportunities for students. We have made a lot of progress and still have work to do,” noted Bridges. “I am proud of Cleveland County Schools and am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving.”
Ronnie Grigg, who had the second most votes in the school board race, took the opportunity to lightly criticize the length of early voting and his relief that the election was now behind him while also seemingly taking a light jab at Board Member Bridges at the end of his comment.
“I’m so glad that it's finally over,” Grigg sighed, “17 days is just way too long to be out in this. We should do it in a week - in a day. I put a lot of work into it, and it shows on the election screen that I did.
“I wanna thank everybody that had something to do with it. I had a lot of people that gave me a lot of support, not because I'm pretty, but because they know I work for them,” said Grigg making a nod toward the election results on the big screen.
Something new, something old: Commissioners King and Bridges
The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners race kept the county firmly in Republican hands. Republicans Doug Bridges, who currently serves on the board and newcomer Wayne King captured the two available seats in a four-candidate contest.
Bridges finished first with 19,508 votes (30.58 percent), narrowly edging King, who received 19,272 votes (30.21 percent). The difference between the two Republican candidates was just 236 votes.
King, the newest member of the Board of Commissioners, secured a second-place finish for a freshman term.
Democratic candidates Curtis Pressley and David Peace finished third and fourth, respectively. Pressley received 13,314 votes (20.87 percent), while Peace received 11,700 votes (18.34 percent).
“Thank you to the voters of Cleveland County! I am truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as your next County Commissioner, “King said in a statement to The Shelby Independent Tuesday night after the election. “I love this county and the people who have invested so much in me, my family, and our community. I don't take your trust lightly, and I will work every day to earn it.
“I especially want to thank my wife, Nikki, and our son, Noah. Their love, encouragement, patience, and support have meant everything throughout this journey,” added King. “This would not have been possible without them, and I am incredibly grateful to have them by my side.
“I will not shy away from the issues I campaigned on. You have my commitment: I will not vote to raise your taxes. Period. I will also stand firm in holding the line on unnecessary spending and making sure your hard-earned tax dollars are spent responsibly."
King said, in closing, “Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to serve. I look forward to getting to work for the people of Cleveland County!”
Cooper defeats Whatley in U.S. Senate race:
Republican Michael Whatley won more votes than Democrat Roy Cooper in Cleveland County’s U.S. Senate race but lost substantially in the overall Senate race across the state. At 11:08 p.m., Tuesday, Cooper received 2,380,454 votes, or 58.5 percent, compared with Whatley’s 1,598,498 votes, or 39.3 percent. The race had been called for Cooper, with 96.83 percent of the vote reporting.
Cooper, North Carolina’s former governor, will take the Senate seat previously held by Republican Thom Tillis.
Whatley received 19,208 votes (55.61 percent), compared to Cooper’s 14,588 votes (42.24 percent) in Cleveland County. Libertarian Shannon W. Bray received 459 votes (1.33 percent), while Green Party candidate Michael Dublin received 284 votes (0.82 percent).
Womack defeats Tim Moore in major Congressional upset:
(Election results continued below local sponsors...)
One of the night’s biggest surprises came in North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, where Democrat Lakesha Womack defeated Republican incumbent Tim Moore. Womack wins this race while currently dealing with a criminal summons pending over a rental car that was allegedly never returned.
While Moore won Cleveland County with an almost 2 to 1 vote difference, according to Associated Press results displayed at 11:33 p.m., Womack received 145,400 votes, or 50.90 percent, compared with Moore’s 140,237 votes, or 49.10 percent. Womack held a 5,163-vote advantage with 99 percent of the vote reported.
Moore’s defeat represents a significant political upset for the longtime Republican figure, who previously served as speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives before being elected to Congress.
Alexander holds his seat:
Republican Ted Alexander also carried the Cleveland County portion of the NC Senate District 44 race, receiving 20,997 votes in Cleveland County (60.94 percent). Democrat Rod Powell received 13,461 votes (39.06 percent). Alexander won in Gaston and Lincoln County, too.
Eason completes an unbelievable political election journey:
After defying all odds and defeating incumbent Kelly Hastings in the primary, she moved on to secure a win Tuesday night in the NC House District 110 contest. Republican Dr. Caroline Eason received 8,100 votes (57.55 percent) in the Cleveland County returns. Democrat Mary Silver received 5,974 votes (42.45 percent).
Eason secured victory in the race. However, District 110 also includes voters in Gaston County, and the figures above represent the Cleveland County portion of the contest rather than the complete districtwide tally. She won her race in Gaston county, securing a solid win Tuesday night.
Great Scott!
In NC House District 111, Republican Rev. Paul Scott received 12,431 votes (61.81 percent), defeating Democrat Jerry Blake, who received 7,680 votes (38.19 percent). This is Cleveland County numbers only.
Republicans carry judicial contests in local results:
Republican candidates also performed strongly in the judicial races reflected in the Cleveland County returns only.
For NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 01, Republican Sarah Stevens received 19,099 votes (55.86 percent), compared to Democrat Anita Earls, who received 15,094 votes (44.14 percent).
In the NC Court of Appeals contests:
Seat 01: Republican Michael C. Byrne received 20,211 votes (59.21 percent), defeating Democrat John S. Arrowood, who received 13,926 votes (40.79 percent).
Seat 02: Republican George Cooper Bell received 20,325 votes (59.64 percent), compared to Democrat Tobias (Toby) Hampson, who received 13,752 votes (40.36 percent).
Seat 03: Republican Craig Collins received 20,216 votes (59.32 percent), defeating Democrat Christine Marie Walczyk, who received 13,862 votes (40.68 percent).
In District Court Judge District 39, Seat 01, Micah J. Sanderson received 23,531 votes, accounting for all reported votes in the Cleveland County returns.
County offices
Several county-level offices also saw decisive results.
Lacey Ingle Ange received 24,103 votes in the Cleveland County Clerk of Superior Court contest, accounting for 100 percent of the reported vote.
Republican Mike Miller received 23,804 votes in the District Attorney District 39 contest, also accounting for 100 percent of the reported vote.
In the Cleveland County Sheriff’s race, Republican Alan Norman received 25,589 votes; the most votes for a candidate this election cycle.
The Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor contest, in which voters could select two candidates, saw Larry D. Corry lead with 22,504 votes (51.17 percent). Sherry A. Greene received 20,626 votes (46.90 percent), while miscellaneous write-in votes totaled 849 (1.93 percent).
Voters approve constitutional amendments
Cleveland County voters also overwhelmingly supported the three constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot.
The amendment requiring photo identification for voting received 24,963 votes in favor (73.24 percent), compared to 9,122 votes against (26.76 percent).
The amendment establishing a maximum individual income tax rate of 3.5 percent received 25,635 votes in favor (75.36 percent), while 8,382 voters opposed it (24.64 percent).
The proposed property tax levy limit amendment received 24,849 votes in favor (72.98 percent), compared to 9,198 votes against (27.02 percent).
The three state constitutional amendments on the ballot won all 21 precincts. Even in the Democratic-heavy districts where Democrats won, they overwhelmingly opted for the three. The photo ID, the 3.5% max state tax rate and property tax limit carried all 21 Cleveland County precincts and it wasn’t even close. Even democrats voted in favor of these amendments which were considered to be a mostly Republican-backed measure.
All 21 Cleveland County precincts reported results in these contests. 34,738 of 69,909 or 49.69% of registered voters turned out to vote in either early voting or on Election Day, with roughly 20,000 participating in early voting.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.
THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT.
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