From Staff Reports

 Despite a weak economy and unemployment, hovering around 8 percent, President Barack Obama was re-elected president of the United States on Nov. 6, staving off a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney.

Obama carried all the states and districts (among states that allocate electoral votes by district) he had won in the 2008 election except North Carolina, Indiana and Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district.

Obama won the electoral vote, 332 to 206 and the popular vote,  64,916,510-60,493.449.

In the North Carolina gubernatorial race, Republican Pat McCrory topped Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton 55 percent to 43 percent for the post. McCrory’s victory, coupled with the GOP’s continued domination of both houses of the state legislature, gives the Republican’s control of the state’s top levers of power.

U.S. House races affecting the area resulted in victories for Republican Mark Meadows in the 11th District over Democratic challenger Hayden Rogers 57 percent to 43 percent; and for Republican incumbent Patrick McHenry over Democratic challenger Patsy Keever 57 percent to 43 percent.

In the N.C. House District 116 race, GOP incumbent Tim Moffitt beat Democratic challenger Jane Whilden 56 percent to 44 percent.

In a nonbinding referendum on an Asheville water sysem sale or lease, 85.54 percent were against it, while 14.46 percent favored making the change, on which Moffitt is seeking a vote by the legislature. 

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners race resulted in the re-election of David Gantt as chairman, with 62 percent of the vote over GOP challenger J.B. Howard.

The two seats in the District 1 commissioners race went to incumbent Holly Jones (45 percent) and Brownie Newman (40 percent) over Republican challenger Don Guge.

Meanwhile, the District 3 commissioners winners were Republicans Joe Belcher (28 percent) and David King (26 percent).

In the Buncombe register of deeds race, Democratic incumbent Drew Resisinger topped Republican challenger Pat Cothran 56.76 percent to 43.24 percent; while Jeff Foster nipped James H. Coman 50.09 percent to 49.32 percent to win the job of Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor.

Only one challenger won a seat in the Buncombe school board races — Amy Churchill, who topped incumbent Steven Weir Sizemore 51.95 percent to 47.8 percent.

Other Buncombe school board winners, all incumbents, include at-large member Paul “Dusty” Pless Jr., 40.57 percent to 39.57 percent over challenger Jerry Green; North District member Ann B. Franklin over Brian Feelan, 64.53 percent to 35.24 percent; and Owen District member Chip Craig over Dan Hale, 57.76 percent to 41.93 percent.