Hickory City Ward Map Link
Many of the people that come to this site realize that this is an election year. Early primary voting started last Thursday at the Highland Recreation Center.
This is a year when the Mayoral seat and Council seats in Wards 4, 5, and 6 are up for grabs. In reality what we are seeing is two seats up for contention, because no one is challenging Mayor Wright or Alder Sally Fox (who is the representative from Ward 5).
In Ward 4, Hank Guess and Larry Pope are challenging incumbent Z. Ann Hoyle. Since there are more than two candidates running for the position, a primary election is being held to reduce the race to two candidates for the General Election. Early voting will continue until Saturday, October 3rd. The Highland Center Polling Precinct is open from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturday. So early voting will end on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 1pm. The official primary date is October 6th, 2009 from 6:30am until 7:30pm at polling places in the 4th Ward only.
The Ward 4 primary is only eligible to people who live in the 4th Ward. The 4th Ward Northern Boundary runs along the Railroad tracks from 14th street SW to 10 street SE. It includes all of Highway 70 from 19th street SW east to Robinson Road and includes all of the annexed properties in Mountain View. It also includes the Green Park and Ridgeview sections of Central Hickory. The two candidates who receive the most votes during this primary will move on to the General Election where they will be voted on by all eligible voters throughout the City of Hickory
In Ward 6, there are only two candidates, Incumbent Jill Patton and Challenger Harry Hipps, so they are assured of facing off in the General Election, where they will run throughout the City. Early voting for the General Election will also be held at the Highland Recreation Center and will run from October 15th to October 31st from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. So the last date for early voting will be Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 1pm.
The official General Election date is November 3rd, 2009 and polling precincts throughout the city will be open from 6:30am until 7:30pm. Mayor Wright and Alder Fox's names will still be on the ballot and they can be challenged by write-in candidates, but historically the chances of being successfully challenged this way are infinitesimal.
Hope this information helps those who need information about this process.
