At the local level, only two races were contested during the 2023 election season: seats on the councils of Graham County’s two smallest municipalities, Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah.
The Lake Santeetlah race had a lot of interest, considering the contention over the past two years and seven pending voter challenges that are still waiting to be heard from the fallout of the 2021 election.
Just two incumbents survived the 2023 ballot: Jim Hager and Diana Simon, the candidates who have worked to challenge the 2021 outcome due to a higher-than-usual voter turnout.
There were 75 ballots cast in the 2019 election, but the 2021 election had 67 write-ins alone (52.38 percent of the 128 ballots submitted).
The 2023 race concluded with 57 write-ins; a total of 252 votes were on the final tape.
From the western side of Graham County to the easternmost town, Fontana Dam’s first election since 2019 (only Lake Santeetlah is on a 2-year cycle) netted 22 ballots.
All but one council member – Rachel Wachacha – retained their seat. Wachacha will be replaced on the Fontana council by Tracy Williams, who previously served on the board until his late-2019 resignation.
The Town of Lake Santeetlah appoints its mayor after the election; Fontana Dam votes for its mayor on the ballot.
Both councils are filled by the five candidates who receive the most votes.
Results are unofficial until the Graham County Board of Elections canvass (certify) the 2023 election, but for now the numbers are as follows:
Lake Santeetlah
* Diana Simon (incumbent), 32 votes;
* Kevin Haag, 32 votes;
* Jim Hager (incumbent), 31 votes;
* Ralph Strunk, 31 votes;
* Keith Predmore (write-in), 30 votes;
* Tina Emerson (incumbent), 22 votes;
* Connie Gross (incumbent), 22 votes;
* Alan Davidson, 19 votes;
* Aura Griffin (write-in), 17 votes;
* Gary Lane (write-in), 7 votes;
* Chris Griggs, 6 votes;
* Larry Douglas (write-in), 1 vote;
* Rahger Eunich (write-in), 1 vote;
* Jack Gross (write-in), 1 vote.
-Publisher’s note: Griggs withdrew from the race – but by the time he submitted his withdrawal, the ballots were already printed.
Fontana Dam
* Rob Hardy (mayor, incumbent), 7 votes;
* Joshua Grant (incumbent), 7 votes;
* Tracy Williams, 7 votes;
* Tiffany Duke (write-in, incumbent), 4 votes;
* Lacie McBee (write-in, incumbent), 3 votes;
* Rachel Wachacha (write-in, incumbent), 1 vote.