Election Day for municipal races is Tuesday and High Country Radio continues to look at several candidates running for local offices.  Today, we’ll profile long-time Banner Elk Mayor, Deka Tate.

Tate has been the mayor of Banner Elk for 10 years and served five-and-a-half years as the mayor pro tempore.  She’s originally from Roanoke, Virginia.  Tate has lived in the High Country for around 40 years and in Banner Elk for 30.

Tate said she is a very involved grandmother, and participates in church events, volunteers with the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Foundation.

Years ago, Tate said she worked at Banner Elk Elementary and owned a custom frame shop.

When asked about goals she has set for the future of Banner Elk, Tate said, “I would like to have seen us to have preserved our natural resources.  I would like to see us providing a good quality of life for our citizens who live here.  I would like to have had controlled growth, and I would like to see a long-range plan for the town to be successful.  We’re doing a plan now, [but I’d like] to see it implemented in a successful way so that we maintain a quality of life.”

When asked why residents should vote for her, Tate said working 15 years in the local government is very valuable and has taught her how to lead the town of Banner Elk.