Messages obtained by NC Local from an auditor’s office staff member to the Jackson County Board of Elections chair show a directive to halt the local board’s June 2nd vote on whether to move a polling location on Western Carolina University’s campus.
Dallas Woodhouse, who serves as auditor’s election liaison to the local and state board of elections, sent Jackson County Board of Elections Chair Bill Thompson several messages obtained by NC Local through a public records request. The texts discussed the location of an early voting site as well as an open position of the Jackson County Board after Republican board member Wes Hanemayer resigned.
“Don’t let them have a vote,” a message sent from Woodhouse to Thompson on June 2 at 9:48 a.m. read.
The board did vote later that morning, with Thompson as the lone opposition to a plan to move the voting site to the Health and Human Sciences building on campus.
The early voting plan for the county was a sticking point in the primary election as the Republican-majority state board ultimately decided to remove a county polling place from Western Carolina’s campus. Students and advocates protested the move, saying it made it more difficult for students to vote. The decision made the polling location closest to campus the Cullowhee Rec Center.
At the June meeting, Thompson and fellow board member Jay Pavey said they were pressured by leaders at the state level to vote against a plan to have a campus-based early voting site at Western Carolina University.
Pavey cited “pressure from Raleigh” before breaking with his party to join the board’s two Democratic members in favor of a plan to bring a site back on campus.
State Auditor Dave Boliek confirmed to WLOS that he discussed the issue with Thompson.
Woodhouse declined to comment, referring questions to the Auditor’s office.
“The messages reflect guidance and advice provided by Mr. Woodhouse,” Randy Brechibel, a spokesperson for the auditor’s office, said in a statement to NC Local. “With a board member vacancy ahead of the June 2 meeting, and given the deadline to submit early voting plans to the State Board of Elections for the 2026 Statewide General Election is not until July 24, 2026, Mr. Woodhouse advised it would be more appropriate to wait until the vacancy was filled before taking a vote. It’s up to the chairs whether they act on any advice provided.”
The auditor’s office declined interview requests by NC Local.
In text messages the day after the meeting, Woodhouse suggested how Thompson might respond to NC Newsline reporter Lynn Bonner.
“Go ahead and tell Lynn Bonner when she calls that there are concerns by you, local party members people in Raleigh that opening a new site and closing a long standing one in A general is bad practice. This has nothing to do with voting or not voting on campus,” the text read. .
“If you want text her this and anybody else who needs a quote,” Woodhouse continued, including Bonner’s cell phone number.
“There are strong feeling[sic] among people in the local party, community members and folks in Raleigh that it is unwise to close that Rec center site that has been used for nearly two decades by community members and open a new site that has never been used in a high stakes general election. The concern is less about where the new site is, but the appropriateness and wisdom of closing a long standing community site the public has long vote at. It’s just not an operationally sound move.”
Woodhouse, who previously served as executive director of the state GOP, then sent links to posts from the News & Observer, the John Locke Foundation and WLOS to Thompson.
Possible board member replacement
Hanemayer officially resigned from the board on May 26, 2026. Two days later, on May 28, Woodhouse sent a text to Thompson that also addressed Christian Frailey, chief counsel of the North Carolina Republican Party, and Gail Debnam, a Jackson County resident and former board member who Woodhouse said was interested in again serving on the Jackson board.
“Christian: Gail Debnam, former Jackson BOE chair is rejoining the Jackson County Board. Please help her with the paperwork,” the text said. “We will get it to the NCSBE and they may have to call a special meeting for the appointment (FYI, does anybody have Wes’s actual resignation letter?)”
“Gail understands we can’t shut down the Cullowee [sic] Rec center to move to the Health and Human Services [sic] building. The four sites in the primary worked fine and we want that to the status Quo going forward. Gail, thanks for your willingness.”
In another message the same day, Woodhouse sent a County Board of Elections application to Jackson County GOP Chair Justin Castle and Thompson: “the new member. needs to fill this out and send to ncgop or me.”
NC Local has requested a copy of the application.
Castle told NC Local on June 9 that the local party had not “finalized a pick yet.”
“Some names were given who were interested and we will work to see if they would like to serve in that capacity,” Castle wrote in an email. Castle did not respond with an update before publication.
The Jackson County GOP is expected to choose a new board member this summer who will then be appointed by the State Board of Elections at their next meeting.
Note: NC Local redacted personal contact information from text messages.
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