By David Rogers. November 8, 2011. BLOWING ROCK -- Incumbent Mayor J.B. Lawrence won re-election in convincing fashion and Albert Yount defeated all-comers in being returned to his Town Commissioner seat, while Dan Phillips picked up broad support for his first term as Town Commissioner.

Blowing Rock News interviewed Lawrence shortly after the results were announced by local election official Johnny Lentz at Town Hall. "I look forward to serving the people for another two years," Lawrence said. "I am relieved. You always have doubts. But with the margin of victory that I had, I think the voters spoke for themselves.  They made a clear statement of their belief that I represent all of the people."

Yount was obviously pleased with his own margin of victory. "This one was for Martha," Yount said, speaking of his late wife. "The voters obviously liked what I have been doing.  Our core campaign message of needing to maintain a balance between residential and business, as well as other constituent interests hit home.  I had more people working for me than I knew."

A few steps away, Phillips greeted well-wishers and supporters. "I am excited," he shared with Blowing Rock News. "I appreciate the voters showing their confidence in me. It is apparent that a lot of folks agree with me that we have to look toward the future. We have to take control of our destiny.  Obviously the road (the widening of U.S. 321) is a major issue, but people are also realizing that our demographics are changing. A lot of our folks are aging out, and we have to recruit young people to this town.  We have to get new businesses (to sustain the Town's economic health)."

Election official Lentz reminded the estimated 40 people in the Town Council chambers to hear the results that the results reported Tuesday night are still preliminary, subject to change when this official results are made public.  While it was uncertain whether today's heavy voter turnout was a record, Lentz reported that 465 voters cast ballots on Tuesday, and when combined with 90 early and absentee ballots called in from the Watauga County Board of Elections, the total turnout amounted to 555 registered voters.

Referencing Blowing Rock News' recent article on single-shot voting, Lentz noted, "There were 129 ballots where there was undervoting (the voter did not vote for as many candidates as could be elected, i.e. the opportunity to vote for two Town Commissioner candidates)." The data for which candidates might have benefited from single-shot voting was not available.

MAYOR

TOWN COMMISSIONER

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