Alex., Watauga wins fail
to boost Shook over Butler

By MICAH HENRY

Though Alexander County resident Dwight Shook carried his home county as well as that of Watauga, where opponent Jerry Butler resides, Shook was unable to seize the Republican nomination for the N.C. 45th Senate seat.

Shook had 1,580 votes (62.1 percent) compared to Butler’s 965 votes (37.9 percent) in Alexander. The margin was more narrow in Watauga with 1,498 votes for Shook and 1,381 for Butler, according to unofficial results.

However, Butler won by over 1,000 votes in Wilkes (3,846 versus 2,488). The margin was smaller in Ashe, where Butler took 1,437 to Shook’s 985 votes.

Districtwide, this totalled 7,629 votes for Butler and 6,551 for Shook, according to unofficial totals from the N.C. State Board of Elections.

“I would like to thank everybody for supporting their hometown candidate,” said Shook. “I thank everyone in the whole district who voted for me. I congratulate Jerry on his win.”