Maggie Valley aldermen get free pass to re-election

Yahoo

6 days ago

Jul. 23—MAGGIE VALLEY — Two incumbent Maggie Valley aldermen will face no challengers in the November election in what is a rare uncontested election since the town was incorporated in 1974.
Barring a successful write-in campaign, Aldermen John Hinton and Jim Owens will both return for another four-year term. Only two of the five seats on the board are up for election this year.
Historical election stats available as far back as the 1990s show there hasn't been an uncontested race in recent history.
Both Hinton and Owens were first elected in 2021. That race was defined by festering controversy over development and RV parks, which attracted a more crowded field of candidates. The two bested an incumbent and another challenger to snag seats.
Unlike the dynamic four years ago, both Hinton and Owens said they were not surprised that no challengers surfaced during the filing period that ended last Friday.
"I think it is further proof that the people like the direction that the town is headed with the things that we have done the last four years," Hinton said. "I think 70% to 80% of the people are behind us and they like what is going on."
Owens echoed those words while stating a list of board accomplishments that includes finally adopting a new Unified Development Ordinance and Land Use Plan, installing new crosswalks in town and building Veterans Park.
"We have had an excellent three-and-a-half years and we have overcome some huge obstacles," Owens said. "John and I had a list of things we wanted to get done, we have accomplished a lot."
One issue that Hinton said has resonated positively with residents is the town's response to Tropical Storm Helene. The town suffered around $4 million in damage — much to the town's sewer infrastructure — from last September's storm and many of those recovery projects are underway or have already been completed.
"The proof in the pudding is the way the Helene recovery has been handled," Hinton said. "We are eating that elephant one bite at a time."
Owens said it would be difficult to fault what the current board of alderman has accomplished the past several years.
"If someone had chosen to run against us, I don't know what their platform would be," Owens said. "Our track record is pretty good."
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