Campaign signs line the drive into the polling site in Jonesville on Election Day.
While calls to “defund the police” have come from some across the state and nation, Yadkin County was hoping to funnel additional funding to law enforcement by way of an increase in the sales and use tax, but that referendum was defeated by voters. This is not the first time a sales tax increase has been voted down in the county. The .07 cents sales tax increase would have generated approximately $570,000 per year which was to be earmarked for the Sheriff’s Office, as well as fire departments, rescue squad, and future capital needs of the Yadkin County Public Schools. The referendum was defeated with with 60.94 percent of voters against the increase.
In the only contested municipal race, two incumbents fell to newcomers in the race for Boonville Town Commission. Incumbent Commissioner William Paul Baity came in at the bottom with 298 votes. Newcomers David Cox and Dwain Dobbins will join the board. Cox received 380 votes and Dobbins 317. Incumbent Monica Craver, an appointee to the board, did retain her seat with 309 votes. Another appointee, Richard Lasky, was defeated in his reelection bid to serve out an unexpired term on the board. He will be replaced by Tim Driver.
Newcomer Michael Tilley was elected to serve on the Jonesville Town Council with 654 votes. Incumbents Regina Adkins and Tracy Wall also reclaimed their seats with 621 and 551 votes, respectively.
East Bend Mayor Archie Hicks who ran unopposed received 258 votes. East Bend Commissioner Larry Adams was reelected with 224 votes. Neal Nichols who was appointed to the board in January, was elected with 185 votes. Newcomer Eddie Venable also elected for the East Bend Town Board with 208 votes.
Incumbent County Commissioners David Moxley, Marion Welborn and Kevin Austin who ran unopposed will retain their seats on the board as will Yadkin Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Van Hemric.
Yadkin County’s state legislative representation will remain unchanged. Vickie Sawyer, NC State Senator for District 34 was reelected with 71.08 percent of the votes in her favor.
District 73 State House of Representative Lee Zachary also claimed victory with 64.59 percent of the vote.
More than 50 percent of registered voters cast their ballots early in this year’s election, either by mail or at the one-stop voting location in Yadkinville. A total of 11,418 voters cast their ballots during the one-stop voting hours and as of Monday 2,098 of the 2,867 requested mail ballots had been returned.
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-258-4035 or on Twitter and Instagram @RippleReporterK.