The Mountaineer

The results of Tuesday’s election brought both familiarity and freshness to the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen.  

Incumbent Saralyn Price and political newcomer Scott Pauley took the race for two open aldermen seats with 68 percent of the vote combined.

A total 406 votes were cast between the Ivey Hill and Jonathan Valley precincts including absentees and one-stop votes. Of those, Price won 34.48 percent of the vote, or 140 votes. Pauley was close behind with 139 votes. Phillip Wight followed with 82 votes to Ron DeSimone’s 45.

As the sun was rising Tuesday, candidates were setting up in front of town hall to greet voters as they trickled in. Voter turnout was slow but steady, typical of recent years’ municipal elections, workers said.

“I’m tickled to death,” said Pauley. “I’m humbled that the people of Maggie Valley are willing to give me a chance. It’s a good feeling. …It’s already been a great civics experience. And I’m ready.”

What Pauley lacks in experience, he more than makes up for in enthusiasm toward the opportunity to learn and serve in a new way. He said he’s excited and ready to hit the ground running.

“I’m ready to roll,” he said. “I’m ready to make the best of it and move forward. …It’s refreshing. It’s exhilarating, but my feet are killing me.”

While Pauley brings newness, Price brings decades of familiarity, four years as alderwoman and 16 years on the town’s police force, including a stint as chief.

Price said her aim for this term is to build unity among the community.

“My main goal is for everyone to work together,” she said. “That’s what I’m interested in most. …I look forward to serving again, and anyone who has ideas, I want to hear them.”

Pauley agrees that group collaboration will be necessary for Maggie to succeed as a thriving town.

“We’re all going to work together,” he said. “And the guys who didn’t get (elected), we’re going to work with them, too. Apparently, they have ideas that need to be heard. If someone’s willing to run, something is driving it. I want to hear it.”

Tuesday is proof it can be done, he said. At the end of a long day campaigning, the feeling among candidates was amicable and upbeat.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Pauley. “No body was slinging anybody. We’ve worked together and helped each other. … What’s most important, my wife and daughter are proud of me. They were cheering when I told him I won, and that tickled me to death.”