Messages From Our 2026 Candidates

Posted on Facebook on November 4, 2026

The people of District 119 made themselves heard yesterday, and I am proud to be your Representative-elect.

Thank you…

To the volunteers who knocked doors, made phone calls, wrote postcards, and held events. Your enthusiasm for this campaign is infectious.

To those of you who made contributions to help us run a successful campaign. Every contribution made a difference, and I appreciate all of them.

And to the voters. You have put your trust in me, and I take that seriously. It is a privilege to represent you.

Because of your support, we will bring back balance to our state legislature. You and your family are my top priority, and I’m looking forward to getting to work.

— Mark

Posted on Facebook on November 4, 2026

Thank you Jackson County!

Tonight I’m humbled and incredibly grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me to continue serving as your Clerk of Court.

To every person who voted, volunteered, encouraged me, put up a sign, made a phone call, shared a post, or simply stopped to offer a kind word along the way, thank you. This campaign was made possible by so many people who gave their time and believed in what we’re working to accomplish.

I also want to thank my family for standing beside me through every long day and late night. I couldn’t have done this without them.

Winning an election is an incredible honor, but more importantly, it’s a responsibility. Tomorrow, the work continues.

I’ll continue doing everything I can to make sure the Clerk’s Office serves every person in Jackson County with fairness, professionalism, compassion, and respect. No matter how you voted, my door is open and I’m here to serve you.

I’m proud to be from Jackson County, proud to serve here, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue doing the work I love.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Posted on Facebook on November 5, 2026

I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every person who put up a sign, canvassed a neighborhood, sent a text, made a phone call, encouraged me, guided me, or sent a donation to my campaign.

Ron Robinson kept us focused.

John Bubacz kept the numbers straight

John Herrera The Constituent created the entertaining Instagrams.

They all offered valuable insight.

Thank you, Roy Burnette, for your wisdom, guidance, and interesting conversations.

The Jackson County Democratic Women held me up.

Dee Billia and the Cashiers Democrats, thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our voices.

Thank you, Dr. Tim Moser and his SCC Sociology class for your forum giving all candidates a chance to speak.

The Young Democrats and WCU College Democrats contributed the energy we needed.

My husband, Skip Almond, was and is my greatest cheerleader. My niece, Jewel Jones, created that beautiful logo while she had the flu, then gave me the flu. It was worth it! Thank you to my children, Mary and Stephen for your constant encouragement. I love you all dearly.

Thank you Sean Bridgers and Casey Walawender, for being wonderful candidates. I look forward to working with you.

Most of all, thank you to every citizen who voted for me!

Posted on Facebook on November 5, 2026

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, door-knocked, poll-greeted, phone-banked, or overall supported my campaign!!

None of this would be possible without you!

Thank you all so much for all of your support!! I am very excited to continue my work for the community.

Posted on Facebook on November 4, 2026

Last night, North Carolina made it clear what kind of future we want. Our state set the tone for the country and elected outstanding public servants from the mountains to the coast.

We flipped the North Carolina House, ending over a decade of one-party control. We’re sending strong leaders to the U.S. House, who will be my colleagues. And we re-elected Justice Earls to the Supreme Court and our slate of judges to the Court of Appeals, who will uphold our laws and protect North Carolinians.

Congratulations to everyone chosen by the people of North Carolina last night. Governing is hard work — time to get to it.

Posted on Facebook on November 4, 2026

The voters chose, and I am so proud to represent Western North Carolina in the US Congress starting next January.

We have started a movement here in Western North Carolina and that movement is called the Mountain Democrats. I am going to work hard to represent all of Western North Carolina!

Posted on Facebook on November 4, 2026

It has been an honor to serve as Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Haywood and Jackson counties. Thank you to all of you that voted for me in this election.

I will continue to work hard for the people of Haywood and Jackson counties and all of Western North Carolina. Once again, thank you for your support and encouragement over the years!

Posted on Facebook on November 3, 2026

Thank you, Jackson County.

Tonight's unofficial results show that you've trusted me with a seat as your Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, and I'm deeply grateful.

Thank you to everyone who voted, shared a post, talked with a neighbor, or asked me a hard question along the way. Every one of those mattered. This seat isn't about party. It's about the land we share and the families who work it.

Congratulations to John Wittekind, who the unofficial results show returning to the board. I'm grateful for his service and look forward to working alongside him. Thank you to Doug Parker for his years of service to our district and to this county's land and water. That kind of commitment deserves real appreciation. Thank you also to David Ivey for stepping up to run. It takes a lot to put your name on a ballot, and every one of these men cares about Jackson County.

Jackson County has less farmland left than nearly any county in North Carolina. What remains is worth protecting, and our farmers deserve real information about the tools that can help them, including Voluntary Agricultural Districts, Enhanced VADs, and conservation easements. That's the work I'm ready to get started on.

Results become official after the county canvass, and I'll share more then. Tonight, I just want to say thank you. Let's keep our land in farming and our farmers on the land.

Posted on Facebook on November 4, 2026

Thank you voters, supporters, friends new and old, everyone who canvassed, made phone calls, wrote post cards, and talked with their friends and neighbors about my campaign! Thank you for your trust and for your belief and encouragement.

The voters wanted to remain with the current senator instead of me and for his election I congratulate Senator Corbin!

Lots of people are asking me today how I'm doing. I'm doing great, really. Because throughout this campaign the best part of it was meeting so many wonderful people and having the privilege of taking a few minutes of peoples' time for them to listen to the issues of this campaign including: affordable housing, affordable child care, and fully funding our PUBLIC schools!

I want to take just a few more minutes of your time and share one thing that happened Tuesday as I made my way to each of the eight counties in District 50, starting at 6:30 am. I was going through Downtown Franklin and for some reason I looked to the side between some parked cars and I saw my wife Erin, who had gone to Franklin from Cullowhee to get some yarn from the yarn shop there. I honked at her and quickly parked and we snapped the selfie that's pasted here (on facebook).

I could not have done any kind of a campaign without the support of my wife Erin. Her support and encouragement was key to me even entering the race. I saw this chance meeting on Tuesday as a good omen at the time.

Now I realize that the serendipitous experience wasn't an omen but another amazing moment on the campaign trail, having the opportunity to briefly touch base during my long final day of the campaign was energizing and wonderful.

This campaign has been one of the most enjoyable things that I've ever done. I hope that you have enjoyed my campaign as much as I have!

Thank you everyone for your hard work, your time and treasure and most of all your vote!

Posted on Facebook on November 5, 2026

I am truly humbled, honored, and blessed to have the opportunity to serve a second term as your Jackson County Register of Deeds!

Although I was fortunate enough to run unopposed again in this election, I do not take that for granted for one moment. The trust, confidence, and support that you have shown me mean more than words could ever express. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to continue serving a county and community that mean so much to me.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and believed in me along the way. Whether it was a kind word, a prayer, or simply letting me know that you appreciate the work we do, please know how much it has meant to me.

Being your Register of Deeds is so much more than a job or a title. It is something I truly love and take great pride in. I feel blessed every day to have the opportunity to serve the people of Jackson County and to work alongside such a wonderful and dedicated staff. I could not ask for a better group of people to share this journey with.

One thing I will always remember is that this office belongs to the people of Jackson County. It is YOUR office, and I am simply blessed to be the person entrusted with serving you. That is a responsibility I hold close to my heart and one I will never take lightly.

I am also so thankful for my family and friends who have stood beside me, encouraged me, and supported me throughout this journey. Your love and prayers mean the world to me.

Above all, I give thanks to God for His many blessings, His guidance, and the opportunity to continue doing something that means so much to me.

Jackson County, whether you have offered a word of encouragement, shown your support, or simply placed your confidence in me, please know that I am deeply grateful. Running unopposed does not make this opportunity any less meaningful to me. If anything, it reminds me of the responsibility I have to continue earning your trust each and every day.

Thank you, Jackson County, for the honor and privilege of serving as YOUR Register of Deeds for another four years! My heart is full, and I am truly blessed! ❤️