Compiled by Jesse Wood
April 22, 2014. Eight candidates are running for three seats on the Watauga County Board of Education, but only six will move onto the ballots of the general election in November. During the primary on May 6, residents of Watauga County will narrow down the field of what is supposed to be a nonpartisan contest. From there, the three candidates with the most votes will earn a seat on the school board. Ron Henries is the only incumbent in the field.
See info on the candidates below with links for more details.
Tiffany Christian: Below is Christian’s statement announcing her candidacy and links for more information:
“Dr. Tiffany Christian has officially formed her election committee with the intention of filing for candidacy for the Watauga County Board of Education when filing opens Feb. 10.
Dr. Christian is the mother of 4, and married to a retired Army veteran. She and her family live in the Meat Camp area of Watauga County. She has served as a full-time faculty member at Appalachian State for 10 years and is currently the owner of Gigi’s Uniforms and More in the Boone Mall.
She has graduate degrees in Education, Social Work and Theology. Tiffany’s community involvement includes Hardin Park Parent Teacher Organization, Boone Sunrise Rotary, Girl Scouts and the board of directors for Hospitality House.”
For more information about Christian, click to:
Jason Cornett: From Cornett’s campaign Facebook page:
“A few months ago I began praying consistently for our school system. I had taken the time periodically to pray in the past, but it became more of a burden. I look around our community and see so many capable individuals that would be suitable candidates for the Board of Education and realize at the same time many of them are pressed for time as their plates are pretty full…
Why am I running for BoE? Because it is my responsibility to my son as his dad. It is my responsibility to this community as a member. It is my responsibility to the churches I stand before as a preacher. It is my responsibility to GOD as a Christian. GOD does not call people to serve and sit idle. I am not a politician. I am a member of this community.”
For more information about Cornett, click to:
Ron Henries: Ron Henries is the only incumbent up for election. If elected, this would be his third term (not consecutively) on the Watauga County Board of Education.
Aside from work in other counties, Henries worked in Watauga County Schools for more than 20 years. Henries is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education in he Reich College of Education on the campus of Appalachian State University. Henries currently serves on the Special Olympics NC board.
For more information about Henries, click to this article, which was written during Henries candidacy last term:
Also check out, Henries in his own words here.
Ronny Holste: Ronny Holste wrote a lengthy four-issue platform on his campaign Facebook page. Here’s the introduction:
“Its official, I am running for the Watauga County Board of Education. For close family and friends, this day has been a long time coming, but for me it is simply the time in which I could no longer put off the call of serving my community. What better and more worthy place can I do that than our public education system. Public education has a special place in my heart. Not only am I a community college instructor, but my wife (the current Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year) and many of our friends and family are also dedicated educators. It is important that parents, students, and teachers have a voice in our local educational system. Please allow me to introduce my position on several key issues.”
Jay Fenwick: Jay Fenwick is running for the Watauga County Board of Education again after nearly earning enough votes last year to sit on the school board. He had some tough competition in the 2012 election – with longterm educations Barbara Kinsey, Brenda Reese and Ron Henries earning the top 3 spots.
Fenwick is the father of the bright and musically-gifted Fenwick Boys, as they were known in the Green Valley School community when all three attended the school. Both Fenwick and his wife teach at Appalachian State University.
For more information about Fenwick, click to this previous article written during last year’s election: https://www.hcpress.com/politics/jay-fenwick-father-of-the-fenwick-boys-and-only-watauga-school-board-candidate-with-kids-in-the-system.html
Josh Kanoy: Without a campaign website, information about Kanoy to come. Kanoy hasn’t responded to a message left at the number provided to the Watauga County Board of Elections office.
Kurt D. Michael: Below is a snippet of Michael announcing his candidacy:
“I am pleased to announce my decision to file as a candidate for the Watauga County Board of Education (BoE). I am running for this position with the full support of my wife, Amy Michael, and my two children; son Kauner, a junior at Watauga High, and daughter Olivia, an eighth grader at Hardin Park. I am running for 4 reasons. First, I am a concerned parent. Both of my children have spent their entire academic lives in the Watauga County Schools (WCS). I have watched them grow as learners, as citizens, and as community members. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity for my children to be educated in Watauga County. The time and energy devoted to my children by Watauga’s exceptional educators has been enormous…”
To read more, click to Michael’s Facebook campaign page:
Adam L. Trivette: Without a campaign website, information about Trivette to come. Trivette hasn’t responded to a message left at the number provided to the Watauga County Board of Elections office.