Days away from primary Election Day, The App State College Republicans held a meet-the-candidates forum for Republican primary candidates.
Hosted by CRS president and senior political science major, Caroline Hupp, the Q&A session invited members of the community to come and talk to candidates. The event featured two candidates on the ballot for the general election and one primary candidate.
Eric Eller is running against S. Justin Ray for the Republican nomination for district court judge of District 35 Seat 1. He is an attorney based in Boone and has been practicing law for over 30 years.
“If you find yourself in district court, you want to make sure that the judge that’s hearing your case understands the significance of what’s going on,” Eller said. “Not just that they know the law, because any lawyer knows the law, but they understand how the law impacts people on a day-to-day basis.”
A district court handles trial-level court proceedings, focusing mainly on civil cases. Judicial District 35 has jurisdiction over Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey and Madison counties.
“We’re applying the same law; whether it’s a Republican judge or a Democrat judge, the law doesn’t change,” Eller said.
The second speaker is a general election candidate for Watauga County’s Clerk of the State Superior Court, Charles Haynes. He became the current clerk in 2022 and has been in the field since 2012.
“That is the most rewarding part of what we do. Talking to the public and getting them through life,” Haynes said. “We got to handle it with the most customer service and personality. We know you’re nervous. We know you’re scared. We know you don’t know what’s going to happen. But we also know it’s going to be okay.”
The final candidate at the forum was Rick Woods, a long-time supporter of the CRS and vice chair of the Watauga Republican Party. This is Woods’ first time on an election ballot. He is running because he felt he needed to oppose Adam Hege, the Democratic nominee for District One County Commissioner.
“I’m here for county commissioner because I believe in the county. I live here. I believe in the principles of service to everyone,” Woods said.
Woods is a supporter of diminishing the student population and keeping the current voting map as is, though he said he does not have a plan currently available to the public. District One is heavily populated by App State students, whose vote he intends to reach through his work with CRS.
“Most of you won’t even be here in Boone in four years when the term ends with this current race, so what does it affect how you vote? It doesn’t,” Woods said. “Vote like you’re going to be living here in four years.”
