August 30, 2021
Dear Blowing Rock Homeowners,
Your Vote Counts!
November 2nd will be our election day for the Mayor and three Town Council seats.
Candidates
Mayor Charlie Sellers is running unopposed.
Four candidates are running for three Town Council seats:
• Nancy Collins
• Pete Gherini
• Doug Matheson
• Melissa Pickett
Voter History
The turnout for an off year election is typically 35% of registered voters, compared to 83% for a national election. Low municipal turnouts underline the importance of each vote.
Only 425 voters cast a ballot during the 2019 election. Races are won by a very small margin of votes, usually less than 50 votes.
Voter Registration
Many of our homeowners have a choice as to our voter registration. Your one vote counts in Blowing Rock!
We plan to request each candidate to answer and publish a series of questions dealing with issues important to homeowners. A Candidate Forum has been scheduled for October 7th depending on conditions.
Voter registration can impact this election, so please Register to Vote!
The voter registration deadline if October 8th. You can register to vote in various ways as explained on the Watauga County Board of Elections website at https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register
You can register online through DMV as you renew or change your driver’s license address or you can download the application and mail or hand deliver to the Watauga County Board of Elections. To print your application go to the following link to fill out a PDF form.
http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/BOE/Forms/NC_Voter_Registration_Form_English.pdf
Voter Demographics – Now and in the Future
There are just under 1,300 registered voters in Blowing Rock made up of 27% democrats, 38% republicans, 34% unaffiliated voters. Municipal elections are non-partisan. Interestingly, 37% of the voters are over 70 years old and 37% are between 60 and 69 years old.
During the November 2020 national election 1,068 (82%) people voted along party lines, but during the November 2019 municipal election only 425 (32%) people voted. So, getting out the vote and registering new voters is key to a successful candidacy.
Anecdotally, we know that there are more people since COVID moving to Blowing Rock full-time including retirees and a number of younger families who have registered for our Blowing Rock School. We can reasonably expect the voter demographics to change over the next few years, if not this year.
Regards,
Tim Gupton
President