Franklin, Webster, Bryson City, and Forest Hills are all having uncontested town board elections this year. Even though there are multiple seats open, there’s only one candidate running for each. Webster has two seats available, currently held by Brandon Core and Allen Davis, who are both seeking re-election. Small town sizes with populations under 400 and budgets under $200,000 make it challenging to attract a variety of candidates.
Surprisingly, even in Franklin, a town with a population of 4,200 and Macon County’s county seat, an uncontested election is expected. In North Carolina, when no one files for a municipal office, the county Board of Elections can extend the filing deadline by five days, allowing for latecomers. If that extension passes without any takers, there’s still the possibility of a write-in candidate winning.
Of the candidates running unopposed in Franklin, Webster, and Forest Hills, only two are new to the boards; the rest are incumbents. Uncontested elections can have an impact on voter participation, according to Jackson County Board of Elections Director Lisa Lovedahl.
