Should we beware the Ides of March? It's Primary Election Day! Exercise your right to VOTE! (If you didn't do it already during early voting.) Ocracoke residents vote at the Fire Hall; polls are open from 6:30am–7:30pm.

The OVFD requests that you please park in the back behind the Fire Hall, and not in front where the fire trucks come out. In the event of an emergency (heaven forbid), we don't want to block the firefighters from doing their (volunteer) job. 

In case you've been living under a rock for the past six months, there's a presidential primary going on. The Current's prediction, at 2am on the 15th, is that Ocracoke will overwhelmingly go for Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Ocracoke's republican voters will prefer John Kasich over Donald Trump. Libertarians have their own ballot, but we have no prediction there. If you're registered as Unaffiliated, you can choose to vote in the primary of your choice. I can't wait to see the results! See sample ballots for Dems, Repubs, and Libs here.

On a very local level, Ocracoke registered Democrats or Unaffiliated voters will be choosing the Democratic nominee for Ocracoke's county commissioner. Incumbent John Fletcher has some competition from Tom Pahl. Tom has run a positive and assertive campaign, including signs, active social media, publicized events, bulk mailings, and baby-kissing. His slogan is "Good Government for Hyde County."

John says that the people who know him, know him. "They know who I am and what I am," he says. He doesn't feel the need to advertise.

He says the most significant challenges facing Ocracoke are the fragility of Highway 12 ("We've got to move it farther from the ocean."), the importance of health care and hospice on the island (John's a Bernie Sanders fan because he wants a single payer health care system), and soundside and beach access. 

Tom agrees with John's challenges, but added that he thinks the most important issue is maintaining and improving the economic health of the island, which includes Highway 12 as well as ferry issues. Tom's platform focuses on teamwork. "Government functions because people work together," he said. He wants to find common ground with Hyde County mainlanders, and share mutual respect. He also wants to include more Ocracoke residents in the process of "good government."

"Board appointments in Ocracoke are made by the Ocracoke Commissioner. If I'm elected, I will create an advisory board to make that a more inclusive process," Tom posted on his Facebook page.

John Fletcher's response to Tom's plan to create a new board was to quote his brother: "For God so loved the world that he did not send a committee."  

John also made clear that he doesn't "set horses" with county manager Bill Rich. "If I'm re-elected, I'll make a change," he said.

Both candidates are against tolls on the Hatteras ferry, though John argues that the ferry division could make a killing if they installed slot machines on the ferries!

So far, no Republican has entered the race to run against the Democratic nominee in November.

Happy Voting!

Don't forget this helpful information from the NC State Board of Elections:

Voter ID

Beginning in 2016, North Carolina will require voters to show a photo identification (photo ID) when they present to vote in person. This change is a result of the Voter Information Verification Act or “VIVA.” (S.L. 2013-381).

Acceptable IDs are: Driver's License or NC State Identification Card from DMV; U.S. Passport, Veterans ID, US Military ID, or Tribal ID card.