New House plan unites Alleghany

After several earlier plans divided Alleghany County into two sections — largely on political lines — the N.C. House passed a plan last week that allows all of the county to remain in one house district.

An earlier plan had Alleghany divided with two precincts, Whitehead and Cherry Lane, joined with Wilkes County in another district. The new plan that was finally approved on Nov. 1 has Alleghany with Ashe and part of Watauga County in a single-member 94th District served by Rep. Gene Wilson (R-Boone). The plan passed by a margin of 63 to 57, with all but one Republican, Rep. Monroe Buchanan of Mitchell County, voting against it. Buchanan was black listed by Republicans earlier this year for voting too consistently with the Democrats and not towing the party line.