By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
Putting aside worries about pandemics and frets over a divided America, Clay County residents finally have a chance to voice their concerns, reveal their displeasure or affirm their convictions in the never-ending drama that is American politics.
First chance to visit the polls and vote a constituent’s likes or dislikes comes Tuesday, May 17. Early voting begins Thursday, April 28 and continues through Saturday, May 14.
Primary elections originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 8 were delayed by the N.C. Supreme Court.
Two of the most interesting state-wide races are:
• The fight to fill the seat of three-term retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.
• The race to determine whether neophyte and polarizing candidate U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn will be returned to the House of Representatives’ District 11 seat.
The race for Burr’s U.S. Senate seat
Burr, the senior U.S. senator from North Carolina and dean of the state’s congressional delegation, announced in 2016 he would not run for another term. Burr was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in the former president’s second impeachment trial.
On both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots are 25 candidates announcing their intention to run for Burr’s seat. Among them are Democrat and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley, Republicans U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, U.S. Army combat veteran Marjorie K. Eastman, former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker.
Additional names on the Democratic ballot for Burr’s U.S. Senate seat are Greg Antoine, Chrelle Booker, James L. Carr Jr., Robert Colon, Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond, Constance (Lov) Johnson, Tobias LaGrone, B.K. Maginnis, Rett Newton and Marcus W. Williams.
Other Republicans vying for Burr’s seat include Jen Banwart, Lee A. Brian, Leonard L. Bryant, Drew Bulecza, David Flaherty, Benjamin E. Griffiths, Kenneth Harper Jr., Charles Kenneth Moss, Lichia Sibhatu and Debora Tshiovo.
The race to unseat Rep. Cawthorn
Madison Cawthorn, whose current residence is listed as Henderson County, has served the state’s 11th congressional district since 2021. He was elected to Congress as successor to Mark Meadows, who became Donald Trump’s chief of staff.
At 26, Cawthorn is the youngest member of Congress since Jed Johnson Jr. served Oklahoma’s sixth congressional district in the 1960’s.
Cawthorn has been pilloried for his inflammatory rhetoric and his assertion that the 2020 presidential election was a fraud. He has since backtracked on that assertion.
Seven candidates are running in the Republican primary to unseat Cawthorn. If no one receives more than 30 percent of the primary election vote, a runoff between the two with the most votes will take place on July 26.
Cawthorn and N.C. State Sen. Chuck Edwards have received the most media attention and endorsements, according to Ballotpedia, which terms itself the encyclopedia of American politics.
Other Republicans challenging Cawthorn for his District 11 seat are Matthew Burril, Rod Honeycutt, Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez, Bruce O’Connell, Kristie Sluder and Michele V. Woodhouse.
Democrats running for that U.S. House seat are Jay Carey, Katie Dean, Marco Gutierrez, Bo Hess, Bynum M. Lunsford and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara.
Cawthon had previously decided to run in the 13th Congressional district under maps proposed by the N.C. Legislature but the maps were redrawn into a new 11th district.
Following are thumbnail descriptions, where available, of the candidates on the primary ballot for the Burr and Cawthorn seats:
Democratic candidates for Burr’s seat
Greg Antoine
Greg Antoine, from Fayetteville, is a medical doctor, veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired with the rank of colonel from the Army. His last duty station was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He most recently served as chief medical officer for Morehouse Healthcare and the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Cheri Beasley
Beasley, from Raleigh, was a judge of the N.C. Supreme Court from 2012 to 2020. She assumed the chief justice position in 2019. Previously she served on the N.C. Court of Appeals and as a judge for the N.C. 12th Judicial District. She received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University/Douglass College and law degrees from the University of Tennessee College of Law and Duke University.
Chrelle Booker
Chrelle Booker, of Tryon, is mayor pro tempore in Tryon, N.C. She says in her campaign materials she is the first black woman to have this job. She works in television broadcasting and is a licensed realtor, a board member of the National League of Cities’ Information Technology and Communications Committee and that organization’s Women in Municipal Government.
James L. Carr Jr.
James Carr Jr., of Harrisburg, N.C., served in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 1989. Carr received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, in 1993. His professional experience includes being an IT consultant and he has a CPA in corporate finance.
Robert Colon
Colon, from Wallace, holds a certification in the field of water and wastewater management. He lists his skills as an Eagle Scout, Assistant Scoutmaster, USO member and recipient of the Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service. No other information was readily available on this candidate.
Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond
Alyssia Rose Katherine Hammond of Raleigh is on the web with no listed political party affiliation. She is an African American female registered to vote in Forsyth County, N.C. No other information was available at press time.
Constance (Lov) Johnson
Johnson, of Charlotte, earned degrees in psychology/sociology and a master’s degree in education, guidance and counseling and studied at the Lutheran School of Theology. Her professional experience includes president of the Black Legislative American Caucus and as a public information scholar.
Tobias LaGrone
Tobias E. LaGrone of Greensboro is senior pastor of Soul House Christian Fellowship in Greensboro and is listed on his website as a clinical pastoral psychotherapist, purpose-centered professional development coach, and addictions psychotherapist in private practice. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science from Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss., and both the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn.
B.K. Maginnis
From Charlotte, Maginnis attended Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington before graduating with a B.A. in political science from UNC Greensboro. He is a former Marine who opened his financial planning firm in Charlotte.
Rett Newton
A retired Air Force officer and mayor of Beaufort since 2017, Newton holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Campbell University, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from American Military University and currently is working toward a Ph.D. in marine science and conservation from Duke University.
Marcus W. Williams
Williams, of Lumberton, earned his B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. His professional experience includes working as an attorney at a private practice, assistant public defender for the State of North Carolina, executive director for Pennsylvania Legal Services, Legal Services of the Lower Cape Fear, Legal Services of the Coastal Plains and attorney/law clerk/community fellow from Southern Minnesota Regional Services.
Republican candidates for Burr’s seat
Jen Banwart
Banwart, from Holly Springs, had a career in the U.S. Dept. of Defense. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Politics and Security from Whitman College in Washington state, a graduate certificate in International Security Studies from Boston University and a Master of Letters in International Security Studies and Counter Terrorism from the University of St. Andrews. At the Dept. of Defense she began her career in tactical operations support.
Lee A. Brian
Brian, from Clayton, says on her website she began as a scriptwriter and has launched a motion picture and publishing company. No other information was readily available.
Leonard L. Bryant
Bryant lives in Fayetteville. He served in the U.S. Army, attended the University of S.C. and earned a bachelor's degree from Liberty University. Bryant’s website lists him as a retired soldier affiliated with the 82nd Airborne Division Association, the National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve.
Ted Budd
Budd, from Advance, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the N.C. 13th Congressional district. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University, Dallas Theological Seminary and Wake Forest University, where he earned an M.B.A. degree. He owns a gun range and store in Rural Hall, N.C. and is a member of the Freedom Caucus.
Drew Bulecza
Bulecza, from Lincolnton, is a business owner whose company, TWSSH, sells equine products and according to the web he is an authorized dealer of Cavallo and EasyCare hoofboots products. He also handles local and online sales of metal buildings, carports, sheds, garages, barns, warehouse, airplane hangars and indoor riding arenas.
Marjorie K. Eastman
Eastman is from Cary. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego and graduate degrees from the University of Denver and Vanderbilt University. She was director of communications at NET Power, a senior business development manager at Lockheed Martin and served as commander and intelligence officer with the U.S. army.
David Flaherty is from Cameron. He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in math and a law degree. He listed three previous elective offices he sought: N.C. District Court Judge and District Attorney for the 25th district and a seat in the N.C. House of Representatives from the 46th district. He says he helped establish child advocacy centers in Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties.
Benjamin E. Griffiths
Griffiths, of Cleveland, N.C., was born in Charlotte and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He lists his occupation as concept design/modeling analysis at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
Kenneth Harper Jr.
Harper, from Archdale, is described on his website as a self-made businessman, small business owner and financial consultant.
Pat McCrory
Former seven-term mayor of Charlotte and N.C. governor, McCrory was born in Ohio, raised in Guilford, N.C. He earned his undergraduate degree from Catawba College. He was previously a manager at Duke Energy and senior director of strategic initiatives for the law firm of Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte. He also hosted a political talk show on radio. McCrory was governor from 2013 to 2017.
Charles Kenneth Moss
Moss, of Randleman, N.C. has worked as an evangelist radio preacher and instructor at Richmond Tech. He previously served on the Randolph County Soil & Water Board.
Lichia Sibhatu
Lichia Sibhatu, of Raleigh, was born in Eritrea. Before moving to North Carolina, she lived in Moscow and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Moscow. Her professional experience includes owning a daycare center.
Deborah Tshiovo
From Moravian Falls, Tshiovo is a Congolese American citizen with a degree in public policy from the University of Maryland. Her campaign website says she completed a college internship with a U.S. Senate campaign and was administrative assistant for the International Monetary Fund and attended Congressional and Senate hearings on behalf of American veterans
Mark Walker
Walker, from Summerville, was North Carolina representative to the U.S. House 6th Congressional District from 2015 to 2021. He holds a degree from Piedmont International University and worked in finance at Flow Automotive and served on the budget and finance team at the Greensboro Coliseum. He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and served churches for 16 years.
Republicans running to unseat Cawthorn
Matthew Burril
Burril has been a financial advisor for 35 years and has lived and worked in Buncombe County for more than 50 years. He previously volunteered with the Economic Development Coalition of Buncombe County. In 2015 he was appointed to the Asheville Airport Authority and now serves as its chairman.
Chuck Edwards
Charles Marion Edwards, from Flat Rock, has served in the N.C. Senate from the 48th district since 2016. He attended Blue Ridge Community College and has been a self-employed business owner since the late 1990’s. He and his wife have owned various McDonalds franchises in Haywood, Henderson and Transylvania counties and he was a director on the board of Macon Bank.
Rod Honeycutt
Rod Honeycutt, from Woodfin, served in the U.S. Army and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina, graduate degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology and the United States Army War College. He is a retired colonel. His career experience includes working as a commissioned officer and in supply chain management and small business. He has been affiliated with the WNC DWI task force.
Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez
Wendy Nevarez, of Asheville, is a U.S. Navy veteran. She earned a B.A. degree in political science from UNC-Asheville and an M.P.A. degree from Western Carolina University. She has worked as a law firm legal assistant and a claims specialist with the Social Security Administration and as an accountant.
Bruce O’Connell
Bruce O'Connell, of Candler, has owned the Pisgah Inn on Blue Ridge Parkway. O'Connell earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University. In addition to owning the inn, his experience includes working as a substitute teacher, adjunct technical school instructor, farmer and cave diving guide.
Kristie Sluder
From Weaverville, Sluder holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina. Her career experience includes working as a partnerships specialist with Grace Extended Ministries, Inc. and as a crisis clinician with Hope Counseling and Recovery Services Inc.
Michele V. Woodhouse
Michele Woodhouse, from Hendersonville, earned a B.A. and an M.A. in organizational communication from Michigan State University. Woodhouse's career experience includes founding Purple Door Aesthetics and working as a practice development manager with Viveve, Inc., a senior regional business manager with Suneva Medical and a regional sales manager with the pharmaceutical company Merz North America.
Democrats running to unseat Cawthorn
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara lives in Asheville. She earned an undergraduate degree from Brown University, a master's degree in fine arts, and a master's divinity degree from Harvard University. Her career experience includes working as a minister and the executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality. She is a Buncombe County commissioner
Jay Carey
From Hendersonville, Carey describes himself as a retired disabled U.S. Army combat veteran from the war in Afghanistan. Carey’s career experience also includes working as a municipal employee.
Katie Dean
Dean, whose mailing address is Swannanoa, earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Georgia. Her career experience includes owning an auto repair shop and working as an environmental engineer.
Marco Gutierrez
Marco Gutierez, from Clyde, attended Haywood Community College before majoring in construction management at Western Carolina University. He previously operated a residential construction company with his siblings, then worked with the N.C. Dept. of Transportation as a bridge, roadway and Civil Engineer Inspector. He also has worked as an Instacart shopper and Uber and Lyft driver.
Bo Hess
Bo Hess lives in Asheville. Hess earned an associate degree in human services technology from Asheville-Buncombe County Technical College and bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from Western Carolina University. His career experience includes working as a social worker and psychiatric clinician.
Bynum M. Lunsford
Lunsford, from Mars Hill, attended Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, served in the U.S. Army and with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has worked as a machine operator.
Sources for this article include Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, Vote USA, the Raleigh News & Observer, Fox TV and candidates’ own websites. Readers are encouraged to do further research on individual candidates.