WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS STRUCTURE CHANGE REFERENDUM

Raleigh Legislators are trying to make our local decisions for us & they’ve gone too far. We believe those of us who live here, not Raleigh, should decide who we want to represent us in local government.

RALEIGH SHOULDN’T GET TO DECIDE! - Without local input, Senator Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine decided to gerrymanderer your community to install his preferred candidates for Watauga Commissioner. He led the state legislature to split Watauga County into five districts to favor his chosen representatives, leaving over 20,000 Watauga voters without a chance to vote for their choice of who represents them on the Board of Commissioners until the year 2026. And now Raleigh is gerrymandering our school board districts starting next year too!

WE’RE FIGHTING BACK! - Your County Commission has included a “Structure Change” referendum at the bottom of your November ballot this year, giving you the opportunity to vote directly for fair maps drawn by an independent, non-partisan professional mapmaker that will not split communities and precincts.

VOTE YES ON THE “STRUCTURE CHANGE” REFERENDUM - at the bottom of your ballot!

Commissioner District 1: Includes Precincts Boone 1, Boone 2, Boone 3, part of Brushy Fork. You do not get to vote for representation on the County Board of Commissioners until 2026.

Commissioner District 2: Includes Precincts New River 1, New River 3, part of New River 2. You do not get to vote for representation on the County Board of Commissioners until 2026. NOTE: If you live in the New River 2 precinct, click here and fill out the form, submit, and then scroll down to “County Commissioner Jurisdiction” to determine which Commissioner District you are in.

Commissioner District 3: Includes Precincts Beaver Dam, Laurel Creek, Shawneehaw, Watauga, Beech Mountain, and part of Brushy Fork. Jon Council (U) is your progressive choice for County Commissioner in this race. NOTE: If you live in the Brushy Fork precinct, click here and fill out the form, submit, and then scroll down to “County Commissioner Jurisdiction” to determine which Commissioner District you are in.

Commissioner District 4: Includes Precincts Bald Mountain, Cove Creek, Meat Camp, North Fork, and parts of Brushy Fork and New River 2. Charlie Wallin (D is your progressive choice for County Commissioner in this race. NOTE: If you live in the Brushy Fork or New River 2 precinct, click here and fill out the form, submit and then scroll down to “County Commissioner Jurisdiction” to determine which Commissioner District you are in.

Commissioner District 5: Includes Precincts Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge, Elk, Stony Fork. Sue Sweeting (D) is your progressive choice for County Commissioner in this race.

REMEMBER: To cure the problems caused by the Raleigh Legislature’s redistricting of our County Commission…

Vote YES on the “Structure Change” Referendum at the end of your ballot!