Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court
NOTE: You may vote for one. Candidates are presented below in the order they appear on your ballot.
Reasons for my Endorsement: (First things first — hat’s off to Fullen for being his mother’s caregiver!) Fehl only lost this seat by 31 votes a few years ago. She is extremely well-qualified and has a great chance of winning it this year. For more information about the duties of the Clerk of Court’s office, visit their website here.
Jon Fullen
[No social media nor website found]
Fullen is 56 years old, an ASU graduate, and has served under the Watauga County Sheriff’s office since 2004, as a Deputy until 2023. Currently Fullen presides over the “Civil Division” of the Watauga Sheriff’s Office. In this role, he handles all court instruments: warrants, subpoenas, evictions, etc. On weekends, Fullen travels to Abington, VA to provide caregiving for his mother.
Fullen sent to me the following statement: “Thirty-eight years ago, in 1988, I moved from Meadowview, Virginia, to Boone, NC, to attend ASU on a Track & Field scholarship. In 1990, I walked on to ASU Football and earned a football scholarship under Coach Jerry Moore. While participating in athletics at ASU, I was part of several So-Con Track & Field Championship Teams and was voted ASU MVP of fields events twice. I was also a member of Coach Jerry Moore first SO-Con Championship football team in 1991. In 1993, I earned my degree in Criminal Justice from ASU.
After graduating, I worked in several factories and in the food industries from 1994 to 2002. In the Spring of 2003, I attended Wilkes Community College to complete Basic Law enforcement Training (BLET), graduated in May of 2003. In September 2904, I was hired by the Watauga County Sheriff Office (WCSO) to work in the detention center as a jailer. In October 2004, I was promoted to WCSO patrol division. In 2007 I transferred to the WCSO civil division and in 2011 and was later promoted to Lieutenant of the civil division.
For over 17 years, I have worked daily with the Watauga County Clerk’s Office. As Clerk, my goals would be straightforward: to ensure accuracy, smooth court operations, strong public service, professionalism, efficiency, growth, collaborate with other agencies, adaptability, and effective problem solving. Accuracy is essential to ensure proper case processing and that records comply with court procedures and state regulations. Efficiency is key improving case processes and supporting the dedicated staff within the Clerk’s Office to achieve continued
success.”
I have worked with the public for over 22 years at WCSO and have more than 17 years of daily experience working alongside the Clerk’s office. I strive to remain calm, friendly, fair and professional with everyone I encounter. It would be a great honor to continue serving the citizens of Watauga County and an even greater honor to serve as Clerk of Superior Court.—–“
Holly Fehl
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586121591098
Pam’s Picks profiled Fehl in her 2022 run for this seat. That profile is copied and/or updated below.
Fehl graduated from Watauga High School in 1994 and from Appalachian State University in 2001, earning a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Legal Studies. She has 20 years of legal experience to date. From 2002-2013, she worked as a paralegal in a local law firm that specialized in family law, and served as a Deputy Clerk of Court from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, Fehl became a judicial services coordinator with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. In 2024, she began work as a paralegal at a private law firm.
Fehl ran for Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court in the November elections 2022, losing the race by only 31 votes.
On her 2024 website, Fehl listed her goals for office:
- To bring to the Clerk’s office an array of knowledge and experience from different areas of the legal system.
- To keep accurate records.
- To ensure transparency, integrity, efficiency and professionalism in all areas of the Clerk’s Office.
- To ensure all the Clerk of Court’s office team is knowledgeable and up-to-date on all aspects of the Clerk’s office operations.
This year, Fehl says: