GrahamCountyBoardofElections

Town of Lake Santeetlah council member Diana Simon answers questions from attorney John Noor at the July 7 preliminary voter challenge hearing with the Graham County Board of Elections. Seated in the gallery between Noor and Simon is council member Tina Emerson, who is one of eight in Lake Santeetlah being challenged. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Town of Lake Santeetlah council member Diana Simon answers questions from attorney John Noor at the July 7 preliminary voter challenge hearing with the Graham County Board of Elections. Seated in the gallery between Noor and Simon is council member Tina Emerson, who is one of eight in Lake Santeetlah being challenged. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Voter challenge moves to hearing

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Robbinsville – After careful examination and testimony, the Graham County Board of Elections has decreed that eight separate voter challenges showed probable cause for an evidentiary hearing.

Candidate filing resumes statewide

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Robbinsville – After an 11-week hiatus, potential candidates can resume filing for the 2022 election cycle today. The pause was forced by an uproar at the state level over long-disputed legislative maps, but the N.C.
Graham County Board of Elections Deputy Director Tasha Holder (left) helps incumbent Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway with the filing process Monday. Holloway was the first candidate to file for any 2022 local election. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Board of Elections Deputy Director Tasha Holder (left) helps incumbent Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway with the filing process Monday. Holloway was the first candidate to file for any 2022 local election. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Candidates begin filing for 2022 local elections

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Robbinsville – After just one day of filing, four sheriff’s candidates had confirmed their 2022 campaigns. Incumbent Jerry Crisp – who took over mid-term for former Graham County Sheriff Joseph Jones in July 2020 – officially filed to run Monday, as did former deputy Dennis Crisp, Leon Allen Jr.
Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway (right) swears in the new Town of Lake Santeetlah councilmembers Tuesday afternoon (from left): Tina Emerson, Ralph Mitchell and Connie Gross. Recent appeals at both the local and state level have attempted to dispute the legitimacy of Emerson and Gross’ residency, but both challenges have been dismissed. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway (right) swears in the new Town of Lake Santeetlah councilmembers Tuesday afternoon (from left): Tina Emerson, Ralph Mitchell and Connie Gross. Recent appeals at both the local and state level have attempted to dispute the legitimacy of Emerson and Gross’ residency, but both challenges have been dismissed. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Santeetlah appeals dismissed at state level

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Raleigh – After a pair of local protests were dismissed, another pair of appeals have been thrown out at the state level. Through a public records request, The Graham Star obtained documents containing the official decisions of the N.C.

Lake Santeetlah election protest dismissed

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Robbinsville – For now, the results of the Town of Lake Santeetlah’s Nov. 2 municipal election will stand. The Graham County Board of Elections dismissed two separate protests filed at a special preliminary hearing Nov. 17, citing incomplete paperwork being submitted as part of the challenges.
Graham Star publisher/editor Kevin Hensley (left) was selected to flip the coin that would break the tie for a seat on the Town of Lake Santeetlah council at Tuesday’s Graham County Board of Elections canvassing meeting. Observing the flip are election board chairman Juanita Colvard (center) and Town of Lake Santeetlah mayor Jim Hager. Photo courtesy of Beefy Rogers/Contributing Photographer

Graham Star publisher/editor Kevin Hensley (left) was selected to flip the coin that would break the tie for a seat on the Town of Lake Santeetlah council at Tuesday’s Graham County Board of Elections canvassing meeting. Observing the flip are election board chairman Juanita Colvard (center) and Town of Lake Santeetlah mayor Jim Hager. Photo courtesy of Beefy Rogers/Contributing Photographer

Election draws ire of Lake Santeetlah

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Robbinsville – The results are certified. Now the challenges can begin. An unusually-high number of write-in candidates for the Town of Lake Santeetlah council popped up on the unofficial results after the general election Nov.

Ongoing projects discussed

Charlie Benton
Friday, October 15, 2021
Robbinsville – Some ongoing Graham County projects have moved forward in recent weeks.  Graham County Manager Jason Marino Gave updates on various projects at the Graham County Board of Commissioners continued meeting, held Monday, Oct. 4.
Sitting Robbinsville Mayor Steve Hooper (left) files for re-election with Graham County Board of Elections Director Teresa Garland on July 6. Hooper was the first candidate to file in Graham County for the 2021 general election. Photo by Tasha Holder/Graham County Board of Elections

Sitting Robbinsville Mayor Steve Hooper (left) files for re-election with Graham County Board of Elections Director Teresa Garland on July 6. Hooper was the first candidate to file in Graham County for the 2021 general election. Photo by Tasha Holder/Graham County Board of Elections

Slow turnout in candidate filing

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Filing for the 2021 municipal elections ends at noon Friday. And as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, only six of the 14 seats up for grabs have received interest.