Hands Off Haywood, Waynesville, NC (2026)

10/10/2026

Candidate comparison for Haywood County Sheriff:

Why the Haywood County Sheriff Election Matters
A big talking point in the race for the nomination in the Haywood County sheriff’s race reflected the culture of the sheriff office’s impact on staff retention. There’s been an exodus—more than 50 employees—in the past few years. Also, as the county grows by leaps and bounds, so do law enforcement challenges: escalating caseloads, more child abuse, staff shortages, increasing hard drug use, mounting homelessness, and recognizing humane and effective treatment for mental health challenges.

Candidates general information:

Tyler Howell:

Democrat.
18-year veteran law enforcement professional with Waynesville Police Department. Served as Community Policing Officer and in a Tactical Anti-Crime Unit for 10 years focused on street-level drug interdiction, wanted persons, high-risk traffic stops, and warrant service.
Previously recognized as "Detective of the Year."
Website: https://howellforhaywood.com/

Mark Mease:

Republican.
Haywood County native.
Narcotics investigator with the Cherokee Indian Police Department.
Mease worked 24 years in law enforcement, narcotics investigation and supervision. He retired as patrol captain in 2023 when Sheriff Bill Wilke took office.
Website: https://www.markmeasesheriff2026.com/

An economy for all?

Tyler Howell: No information found

Mark Mease: No information found

Healthcare for all?

Tyler Howell:

Howell values addressing mental health: "You're not going to jail an addiction out of somebody. You're not going to jail a mental illness out of somebody. … but there needs to be other avenues for recovery, … we don't have much of in Haywood County." (Mountaineer) Also wants to support staff through wellness programs and training, ensuring excellence in service (Mountain Xpress).
Website: https://howellforhaywood.com/

Mark Mease:

Mease supports “aggressive drug enforcement:” Increasing drug canine units, expanding visible presence in communities. partnering with community health resources for prevention and treatment (candidate website).
Website: https://www.markmeasesheriff2026.com/

Childcare and Quality K-12 education?

Tyler Howell:

Howell favors community outreach and youth education. He worked in community policing. As a Juvenile Officer, he engaged directly with local schools, churches, and civic groups to protect and educate our youth through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program which teaches the dangers and effects of drugs and alcohol on the body and how to resist peer pressure. (Facebook: Waynesville News, candidate website).

Mark Mease:

Mease prioritizes school safety and preventing child abuse. Supports investing in continued education and training for School Resource Officers. Plans to strengthen relationships with police departments in the county so Haywood County Schools are safe (Instagram): “We can continue to stand up for our children and ensure they grow up safe, supported, and surrounded by people who care.” (Facebook). Mease also wants to re-establish the Sheriff’s Summer Camp and the Sheriff’s Office Explorer program for teens to explore law enforcement careers (candidate website).

Fair and accessible elections:

Tyler Howell: no information found

Mark Mease: no information found

A healthy planet?

Tyler Howell: no information found

Mark Mease: no information found

10/10/2026

Candidate comparison for Haywood County Commissioners:

You will vote for 3 people.

Why a Board of County Commissioners Election Matters

The five-member Board of County Commissioners shapes direction and services of Haywood County. Commissioners control funding for services, hire key administrators, budget, oversee public services, make appointments to the public health board, determine zoning, set taxes, approve new positions, and hear citizen concerns (haywoodcountync.gov) (Branch.vote). Four-year terms are staggered. Presently, all seats are held by Republicans. Midterm elections will fill three vacated seats, which has the potential to result in a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated members.

Candidates' general information:

David Burnette: Republican
Native of Haywood County, Current CEO at Telco Community Credit Union
Serving 8th year on Haywood County Board of Education (Branch.Vote).
Facebook website:
/david.burnette.75/

Blake Hart: Non-affiliated.
Native of WNC.
Current Executive Director of Haywood Christian Ministry (HCM).
Blake has a BA in Spanish and Religious Studies, a Master of Divinity, and a PhD in Intercultural Studies.
He was ordained into the ministry.
Website:
hartforhaywood.com/

Vicki Hyatt: Non-affiliated.
Journalist and former editor of The Mountaineer.
Hyatt moved to the area in the 1990s, having served as county commissioner and state representative in Montana. She and her husband own a 115-year-old farm in Bethel which her sons’ families will take over.
Website:
hyatt4haywood.com

Thomas Long: Republican.
Incumbent, finishing second term.
Haywood County native.
Long spent decades in manufacturing; he lost his job when the Canton mill closed in 2023.
Director of seven westernmost counties in NC Association of County Commissioners.
Website: None.

Carly Pugh: Democrat.
Public school librarian, social studies teacher, and Appalachian Studies scholar.
Her platform: 1. Bringing government to the people, 2. Affordability, 3. Sustainable growth, and 4. Advocacy for every generation.
Website:
carlyforcommissioner.com

Michael Sorrells: Democrat.
Haywood County native. Small business operator for 40 years.
Served 6 years on school board and 4 years as county commissioner.
Sorrells is “Very accessible to the public because of the nature of my business (service station, convenience store/cafe)…” (Mountain Xpress).
Website: None.

Jeffrey Stines: Republican.
Haywood County native.
30 years in local government.
Currently works for an engineering firm.
Stines previously served as the public works director for the Town of Waynesville.
This election is his first run for public office.
Website: None.

An economy for all?

David Burnette:

Burnette’s stance centers on sustainable economic growth, workforce investment, and fiscal stability (Mountaineer), advocating economic development. At the forefront of his platform is the plan to expand and diversify Haywood County’s economic base, to supplant the lost industrial base (Branch.Vote).

Blake Hart:

Hart states that commissioners are vital to collaborate with towns and businesses to revitalize industrial areas. Tourism revenues ought to improve residents’ lives. Hart pledges to lure good paying jobs, ensure affordable housing, preserve farmland, reinforce farming as economically viable, and grow the food economy (candidate website).
Website:
hartforhaywood.com/

Vicki Hyatt

Hyatt wants to help existing small businesses grow; supports employer recruitment, the use of existing buildings and infrastructure; and provide opportunities for young people to learn skills, explore careers, start businesses, and find local jobs. Supports affordable housing options for working families, young adults, and first-time homebuyers (candidate website).
Website:
hyatt4haywood.com

Thomas Long:

“Economic development is not in the hands of the commissioners,” Long says. “We live in a capitalistic society; this is not socialism.” (Mountaineer). Long emphasizes continuity over experimentation; economic development annual budget process is an exercise in balance.(Smoky Mountain News).

Carly Pugh:

Pugh’s economic priorities are opportunities to revitalize vacant businesses and support sustainable economic growth (Mountain Xpress); pursuing more grant funding; also addressing affordability: public transit, property tax relief, energy savings, local agriculture, workforce development, and childcare (candidate website).
Website:
carlyforcommissioner.com

Michael Sorrells:

Sorrells cites affordable housing, economic development as his priorities. Employee retention will be a priority, … providing the best possible services for our citizens with the least tax burden. (Mountain Xpress).

Jeffrey Stines:

Committed to funding public safety and schools, focusing on the “county's necessities over its wants.” Budget priorities are to be as frugal as possible with taxpayers’ dollars and to make sure employees are taken care of…I’m all about cutting taxes if you can, but understand sometimes you can’t”.
(Smoky Mountain News).

Healthcare for all?

David Burnette: No information found.
Facebook website:
/david.burnette.75/

Blake Hart:

HCM participated in NC Healthy Opportunities Program (HCI Innovation Group). (Facebook). Sees hunger and lack of healthcare as “evil” (Candidate website).
Website:
hartforhaywood.com/

Vicki Hyatt:

Hyatt’s journalism has spotlighted how healthcare subsidy changes affect up to 9,000 Haywood County residents (Candidate site), how the HCA Healthcare acquisition of Mission Health led to community grievances and systemic operational issues (Asheville
Watchdog), and how Medicaid cuts or adjustments squeeze local medical institutions. Healthcare infrastructure must remain stable to support rural communities (Mountaineer).
Website:
hyatt4haywood.com

Thomas Long:

Long was noted as one of the conservative commissioners expressing hesitation regarding early local resolutions supporting statewide Medicaid expansion in 2021 (Mountain Xpress). A top priority for Long is preparing Haywood County for an aging population by strengthening health care, EMS, and workforce planning (Smoky Mountain News).

Carly Pugh:

Pugh wants to protect and expand county support for healthcare including mental health, Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels, and rural EMS coverage to foster safety and dignity for older adults; expand opportunities for young people to stay in Haywood County and invest in public spaces (Candidate website).
Website:
carlyforcommissioner.com

MIchael Sorrells: No information found.

Jeffrey Stines:

Stines supports Sheriff's ongoing efforts to handle drug problems in the community. Plans to pursue “more options” to deal with homelessness, housing affordability, and mental health (Branch.Vote).

Childcare and Quality: K-12 education?

David Burnette:

Burnette advocates for educational funding including higher teacher pay, while supporting sustainable economic growth, maintaining core services and protecting schools that are already working. He sees himself a stabilizing presence. (Smoky Mountain News).

Blake Hart:

Haywood County has an “extreme lack of childcare”. Commissioners should nurture school to career pipelines, improve early childhood care and education, and create policies to support local families (Candidate website).

Vicki Hyatt:

”We need more things for kids to do in our county,” Hyatt. (Branch.Vote); Hyatt supports public education (Ballotpedia). Serious budget cuts put many school programs in danger. Board members must address this fiscal emergency (Candidate website).

Thomas Long:

Commissioners must weigh competing needs — public safety, schools, infrastructure and human services — without allowing any one priority to destabilize the whole (Smoky Mountain News).

Carly Pugh:

"We need to partner with local early childhood coalitions and public library system to expand early literacy and support childcare capacity for working families (Candidate website)." Encourages union participation for teachers and support staff (Facebook).

Jeffrey Stines: No information found for Stines.

Fair and accessible elections?

David Burnette: No information found.

Blake Hart:

As an independent candidate, Hart avoids national political rhetoric or partisan talking points. He advocates people over party, ensuring all local residents have a voice, rather than focusing on national debates over voting laws or election security (Mountaineer).

Vicki Hyatt:

While not issuing a formal platform point on “fair elections,” Hyatt supports elections as a means to check power, hold officials accountable, and listening to the people. She has criticized political abuse and advocated for strong citizen involvement in local politics (haywoodtp.net).

Thomas Long:

Long publicly praised the system: "I love the process... Fair and free elections. You put candidates up before the people and the people decide. It's that simple." Long has frequently emphasized his support for the electoral system during his campaigns (Smoky Mountain News).

Carly Pugh:

“More voices make for a stronger democracy” (Facebook). Supports more women (Mountaineer)and young people in office (Ballotpedia).

Michael Sorrells: No information found.

Jeffrey Stines: No information found.

A healthy planet?

David Burnette:

Burnette supports assisting flood- impacted areas with housing and other options (Branch.Vote). His school board experience confirms that postponing improvements can be more expensive “down the road” (Smoky Mountain News).

Blake Hart:

Hart has seen the economic toll extreme weather takes on vulnerable communities. Under his leadership, HCM began Smoky Mountain Harvest Hub. He supports planned local development to guard open spaces and thwart over-development, agricultural sustainability, supporting small-scale farmers, preserving the regional farming network to avert supply chain disruptions (candidate website).

Vicki Hyatt:

Opposes Duke Energy's requested rate increase; supports preserving farmland (Branch.Vote). Hyatt’s environmental focus is to preserve rural character, support local agriculture, foster sustainable economic growth…and engage residents in shaping solutions…contributing to environmental stewardship (candidate website).

Thomas Long:

A cattle producer and farmer, Long focuses on land conservation through local agricultural ordinances and farmland preservation efforts, overlapping with climate resilience to keep natural land from overdevelopment (Smoky Mountain News). Long defends property tax breaks for farmland (Mountaineer).

Carly Pugh:

Pugh supports expanding work of the Soil & Water Conservation District and the Voluntary Agricultural Districts; securing funds to strengthen farmland preservation; prioritizing stream bank restoration and natural flood mitigation along the Pigeon River basin to protect homes, businesses and farmland; and protecting our land’s character from data centers (Candidate website).

Michael Sorrells: No information found.

Jeffrey Stines:

Stines supports assisting flood impacted areas with housing and other options (Branch.Vote). Stines completed multiple state-certified programs in water, sewer and utility operations (Smoky Mountain News).

10/09/2026

Candidate comparison for State Senate

Why a state senate election matters

The North Carolina Senate has 50 members who serve two-year terms. Elections for all 50 seats will be held on November 3, 2026. Currently 30 members of the Senate are Republicans and 20 are Democrats, giving Republicans the number needed to override any vetoes by Governor Stein. Democrats have not had a majority in the state since 2010. State senators oversee the state budget, confirm executive branch appointments, participate in redistricting, propose and vote on laws, and override vetoes.

District 47: Frank Hughes vs. Ralph Hise

Frank Hughes, age 40, is a Democrat, a high school teacher of world history at McDowell High School in Winston-Salem, Chair of the Avery County Democratic Party.
Website (very full): electhughes.com/

Ralph Hise, age 50, is a Republican incumbent since 2011, currently serving his sixth term. He is a statistician and an expert-in-Residence in the Health Policy Initiative at UNC-Asheville.
Website (very sparse): ralphhise.com

An economy for all?

Frank Hughes

Hughes pledges to break special interest ties that lead to “permanent politicians," hold corporations accountable for "health care deserts," and prevent data centers from driving up utilities costs; "Everyday households should not have to subsidize the infrastructure needed for Big Tech. North Carolina tax payers should NOT pay Big Tech's bills! Data centers bring virtually zero permanent jobs, but they strain our grid, drain our water, and cost the state millions in lost tax revenue.” (candidate website).

Ralph Hise

Hise co-chairs the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee (candidate website) and serves on the Pensions and Retirement and Aging Committee (Ballotpedia). Hise was forced to forfeit money received from the Pfizer Inc. PAC, along with several other government officials, in the largest campaign donation forfeitures in NC history due to donations dated during the legislative session in 2017 (Wikipedia).

Healthcare for all?

Frank Hughes

Healthcare is the second of Hughes’ three platform pillars. He pledges to advocate for sustainable Medicaid and commercial reimbursement rates of low-volume rural facilities to prevent further health care deserts; to gain full-service capacity including labor/delivery and emergency care; direct dedicated state budget funds and opioid settlement money into local treatment, harm reduction and recovery centers; and fund regional EMS networks and medical transportation for essential first response and transportation (candidate website).

Ralph Hise

Hise was a primary sponsor of NC’s Medicaid expansion, which he paired with work requirements for able-bodied recipients (The Avery Journal Times). He is sponsored by health insurers, pharmaceutical and other healthcare organizations (Ballotpedia) and funded by the NC Assn of Nurse Anesthetists PAC, Emergeortho PA PAC, NC Nurses PAC, NC Health Care Facilities Assn PAC, NC Hospital Assn PAC, Cigna PAC, etc. Hise convinced the Senate to reject the portion of House Bill 998 which would have explored expanding Medicaid in NC under the Affordable Care Act. (Wikipedia).

Childcare and quality K-12 education?

Frank Hughes

Public education is the first of Hughes’ three platform pillars. “I will fight to increase per pupil spending, teacher and faculty pay increases, and an end to the wasteful voucher system” (candidate website).

Ralph Hise

Hise supports higher pay for teachers. He “defends his record of expanding North Carolina’s charter school system — lifting a statewide cap that once limited the state to 100 charter schools.” He defends NC’s restrictions on classroom material widely described as critical race theory (The Avery Journal Times). He sponsored legislation to eliminate DEI in public higher education (Ballotpedia).

Fair and accessible elections?

Frank Hughes

Hughes wants legislative term limits: "This makes elections more competitive and ensures every district has representation focused on solving today's problems rather than protecting yesterday's power structures.” He pledges to limit his own tenure to 3 terms (candidate website).

Ralph Hise

Hise co-chairs the Redistricting and Elections Committee (candidate website). Hise has been investigated for campaign finance violations (Wikipedia).

A healthy planet?

Frank Hughes

Environmental stewardship is the third of Hughes’ three platform pillars. He opposes the “unregulated expansion of data centers” and supports building environmental resilience as well as the region’s strong ecotourism economy (candidate website).

Ralph Hise

Hise is sponsored by Duke Energy Corp PAC and the NC Association of Electric Cooperative PAC (Ballotpedia).

District 50: Thomas Downing vs. Kevin Corbin

Thomas Downing is the Democratic challenger to Corbin. He is from Cullowhee, NC. He currently lives in Asheville and has government administration experience. He is a former Special Education teacher. His website: tomdowning4nc.com/

Kevin Corbin is the Republican incumbent since 2021. He is from Franklin, NC. He is an insurance executive with Corbin Insurance Agency, Inc., which provides home, auto, health, and business insurance in WNC and upstate SC. His website: kevincorbin.com/

An economy for all?

Thomas Downing

Downing believes that regional cooperation is the key to bringing in economic development (candidate website). Wants to increase pay and benefits for public safety personnel and funds for volunteer fire departments, DOT infrastructure (roads, bridges, culverts), disaster preparedness, affordable day care, affordable housing, regional cooperation for economic development, phone and internet service for ALL, and passing a state budget on time (Ballotpedia).

Kevin Corbin

Corbin serves on Commerce and Insurance Committee (Ballotpedia) and is endorsed by business organizations such as National Federation of Independent Business, North Carolina Board of Realtors, and BB&T Bank (candidate website). Wants to reduce government. In 2026 Sponsored NC S1080 to lower taxes and NC S972 to reduce state agency budgets by 10% by June 30, 2028 (Ballotpedia). Corbin states, “I believe NC needs to lower the Corporate and Individual income tax, which will put more money in the pockets of the citizens and further strengthen our state economy” (candidate website).

Healthcare for all?

Thomas Downing

Downing sees healthcare as a right. He wants increase healthcare providers in WNC and plan for an aging population (Smoky Mountain News). “Our rural hospitals need a solid plan for dealing with outside influences from Washington that will further strain their finances. People in Macon County must be able to have a baby in Macon County again. How many District 50 residents have had a medical appointment cancelled due to not having a provider available to see them?" (candidate website).

Kevin Corbin

Corbin serves on Health Care Committee (Ballotpedia). Supported Medicaid expansion in 2022 (The Mountaineer, Wikipedia). Corbin is opposed to providing abortions: “I believe that the government must respect and protect all human life from conception to natural death” (candidate website). Corbin’s campaign is supported by health insurers and other health associations (transparencyusa.org).

Childcare and quality K-12 education?

Thomas Downing

Wants to reform education lottery and opposes school vouchers (Smoky Mountain News). “The Republicans in the General Assembly have succeeded in winning the ‘Race to the Bottom’ for public school funding. Now North Carolina is dead last in public school funding – 50th place out of 50 states. Are they trying to make our public schools fail so they can privatize public education?” (candidate website). Downing is known for his passionate public comment and advocacy for the Fontana Regional Library system in Jackson County (Smoky Mountain News).

Kevin Corbin

Corbin serves as chair of the Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee (Ballotpedia). He was elected to Macon County School Board at age 22 and served 20 years, pushing to build schools (EdNC). He favors school vouchers: "In 2024, Corbin voted to overturn then-Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto to a mini budget bill that included $463 million for school vouchers." He also supported 8% teacher pay increase (Smoky Mountain News). His focus is on increasing reading and math proficiency, supported by needs-based grants; he sponsored a bill to "eliminate DEI in public education" (ncleg.gov).

Fair and accessible elections?

Thomas Downing

Wants to end gerrymandering (Ballotpedia). He has also spoken out on the Jackson County Board of Elections’ decision to close a voting site at Western Carolina University, further biasing the district in favor of Republicans (Smoky Mountain News) – it has been restored as an early voting site.

Kevin Corbin

“Citizens should have access to campaign finance records and that voting is a fundamental right” (candidate website). In 2026 Corbin sponsored NC S1084 to reduce the early voting period (Ballotpedia).

A healthy planet?

Thomas Downing

Emphasizes disaster recovery/resiliency; NC is ill-prepared for next climate change driven disaster (Smoky Mountain News).

Kevin Corbin

Post Helene, we should “build back for resiliency” (Smoky Mountain News).

10/09/2026

🐸🤬 November can't get here soon enough

10/08/2026

Let's compare notes, shall we?

Sen. Mitch McConnell didn't cast a Senate vote for three months, and his office shared so little that Kentucky's governor publicly asked him to update constituents on his health.

The same people now outraged about a Democrat candidate staying home sick didn't exactly launch a "Where's Mitch?" campaign.

Talarico held more than 100 public events before he came down with the flu and spent a few days recovering. The audacity!

Paxton responded by leading a rally crowd in chanting "Where is James Talarico?", and Trump called him "MISSING IN ACTION," demanding he report to a debate stage against Paxton, who is supposedly "ready, willing, and able."

Is he though?

Talarico has accepted at least four debate invitations and even offered to debate Paxton on Fox News.

Paxton hasn't agreed to one, and he never debated in any of his three races for attorney general.

Could it be that Paxton's nervous because Talarico leads him 51% to 45% in the latest NYT/Siena poll?

Texas votes Nov. 3. Get your flu shot, and then go vote.

10/08/2026

Jamie Ager will be in Sylva on No Kings Vote Early day--October 17. He will be at Bridge Park at 5:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy his enthusiasm!

10/08/2026

Who will be on the ballot this fall?

US Senate:

Michael Dublin - Green Party
Roy Cooper - Democratic Party
Shannon Bray - Libertarian Party
Michael Watley - Republican Party

US House of Representatives:

Jennifer Balcom - Republican Party
James Ager - Democratic Party (will be in Sylva on October 17)
Travis Groo - Libertarian Party

NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 1

Anita Earls - Democratic Party
Sarah Stevens - Republican Party

NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1 ( See our candidate comparison research on this page, under "You be the judge.")

Michael Byrne - Republican Party
John Arrowood - Democractic Party

NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 2

George Bell - Republican Party
Tobias Hampson - Democratic Party

NC Court of Appeals Seat 3

Craig Collins - Republican Party
Christine Walczyk - Democratic Party

NC State Senate District 47

Frank Hughes - Democratic Party
Ralph Hise - Republican Party

NC State Senate District 50

Thomas Downing - Democratic Party
Harold Corbin - Republican Party

NC House of Representatives - District 118

Danny Davis - Democratic Party
James Rogers - Republican Party

NC Superior Court Judge District 43B Seat 1

Roy Wijewickrama - Democratic Party

NC District Judge District 43 Seat 1

Donna Forga - Republican Party

NC District Court Judge District 43 Seat 3

Justin Greene - Democratic Party

NC District Court Judge District 43 Seat 3

William Jones - Democratic Party

Haywood County Board of Elections:

District Attorney 1 Ashley Welch - Republican

Haywood County Board of Commissioners

David Burnette - Republican
Jeffrey Stines - Republican
Thomas Long - Republican
Carly Pugh - Democrat
Michael Sorrellls - Democrat
Vicki Hyatt - unaffiliated
Blake Hart - unaffiliated

Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court

Jeffrey Haynes - Democrat

Haywood County Register of Deeds

Stacy Moore - Republican

Haywood County Sheriff

Mark Mease - Republican
Tyler Howell - Democrat

Haywood County Tax Collector

Gregory West - Republican

Haywood County Board of Education: Bethel

Larry Henson

Haywood County Board of Education: Clyde

Myra Watson - Democrat
James Robertson - Republican
Terry Ramey - Republican

Haywood County Board of Education: Crabtree-Iron Duff

Marla Morris

Haywood County Board of Education: Fines Creek

Steven Kirkpatrick

Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor

Charles Boyd
William Morrow
Jason Knight

Haywood - Junaluska Sanitary District

James Francis
Chad McMahon

Haywood - Maggie Valley Sanitary District

Richard Sutton

Constitutional Amendments: Viote For or Against:

Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.

Constitutional amendment to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%).

Constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments

10/08/2026

Candidate comparison for school board:

Why a School Board Election Matters

Four seats are open on the Haywood County Board of Education; three of the seats are uncontested, and only one seat, Clyde, has more than one candidate. Well-run school boards focus on student success and learning, welcome shared leadership, plan for contingencies, foster community engagement, hire and fire personnel, and tackle budget issues, among other concerns. This fiscal year, the problem is sizable: Haywood County schools face a three-million-dollar shortfall due to declining enrollment, increased operating costs, and federal and state cutbacks.

Candidates: Terry Ramey, James Robertson, Myra Watson

Terry Ramey (currently a county commissioner)
Haywood County native
Age 72
Lost his bid to continue on the County Commission
Retired from Dayco
In the towing business since 1980
Has a son and grandson in school
No website

James Robertson

Haywood County native
Certified Tax Collector in Waynesville for 30 years (The Mountaineer)
Pastor, teacher and founder of James Robertson Ministries

Has a PhD from Tennessee Temple in organizational leadership and an MBA from Liberty University (Linked In)

Had kids in public schools

Professional website: jamesrobertsonministries.com/f/a-heart-of-gratitude

Myra Watson

Haywood County native

Has a bachelor's, a master's, and a doctorate degree in Education from Western Carolina University.

Over the last 15 years, she has worked at WCU as director of teacher and professional education and as an Assistant Professor in birth-to-kindergarten education.

Watson has 2 daughters in the public school system.

Faculty website: wcu.edu/faculty/mkwatson.aspx

An economy for all?

Terry Ramey is opposed to raising taxes, urged taxes be reduced through greater accountability in county government. He did not pay his own property taxes for 15 years. Ramey opposed state building regulations, tried to circumvent them in 2024, and was rebuked by the Haywood County Commissioners (Smoky Mountain News).

James Robertson had no information about the economy.

Myra Watson wants to raise teacher salaries to recruit and retain talent in Haywood County. "To work alongside government entities to ensure ... system receives the funding it needs and can pay its staff what they deserve.

Healthcare for all?

Terry Ramey opposed Covid-19 vaccine grant for the county in 2023; agreed to it with wording that the health department wouldn't promote the vaccine with federal funds.

James Robertson has no information about healthcare.

Myra Watson has no information about healthcare.

Child care and quality K-12 education?

Terry Ramey has a conservative, family-values perspective. "Ramey's commitment to Christian conservative principles guides his approach to governance. He respects the traditions and values that many residents hold dear and works to protect them through his decisions. This means supporting policies that strengthen families, promote community well-being, and preserve Haywood County's cultural heritage. (LTE in Smoky Mountain News)

James Robertson is a former part-time teacher at Southwestern Community College and Haywood Community College. As a former tax collector, he "knows his way around a budget." (Mountaineer) He wants to preserve the "high-ranking" of the school system. He welcomes conversations with stakeholders. (Facebook)

Myra Watson brings the perspective of a university educator, parent of two daughters in the school system, and elementary classroom teacher. She wants to retain veteran teachers, solidify school funding, and pay staff competitively. "We work toward incentivizing teachers to stay in Haywood County, fairly compensated and competitive with neighboring districts." (Mountaineer)

Fair and accessible elections?

No information available for these candidates.

A healthy planet?

No information available for these candidates.

Hands Off Haywood

10/10/2026

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