Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
Up for grabs this November will be the Davidson County Commissioner seats of Larry Potts, Fred McClure and Larry Allen — all Republicans who have told the Thomasville Times they will seek re-election. Four N.C. General Assembly seats representing Davidson County will also be on the ballot, including seats of Democrat Reps. Hugh Holliman and Jerry Dockham and Republican Rep. Larry Brown, as well as the seat of Republican Sen. Stan Bingham. Dockham did file Monday.
The seats of U.S. Reps. Mel Watt (D-N.C.), and Howard Coble (R-N.C.), who represent Davidson County, are also up for re-election. Coble received a challenge as Democrat Teresa Sue Bratton filed Monday. Other Democrats challengers are expected to file.
Democrat Duskin Lassiter of Lexington also filed Monday, challenging Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.)for her seat in the U.S. Senate. Other Democrats are also expected to file in this race as well.
Republican Cathy Dunn, 58, of Lexington was the only candidate for commissioner to take advantage of the first day of filing. She arrived minutes before noon at the Board of Elections office, just as doors opened for filing. It wasn’t the first time she has been a first as she was the first to announce her candidacy in early November of 2007.
As Dunn arrived for filing, she had an entourage of more than 15 supporters and echoed her reason for making a bid at commissioner.
“My focus is on our future for Davidson County,” she said. “I think we need to devise a top 10 priority list for our county. [We must] take things in order for our county and prioritize them. Davidson County has many issues on the table. We need to address those things. There will be some things coming down from the state, which will affect our county directly.
When interviewed in November, Dunn had the last name Hedgecock, but has since dropped the last name after separating from her husband. Dunn is the owner of two Biscuit Kings in Lexington.
While Dunn was the first Republican to file for commissioner, Robert Rumley, chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party, said Monday he knows of at least five other Republicans who plan to file. The filing period ends at noon on Feb. 29. A primary election will be held May 6 if more than one candidate from each party files for a particular seat. In that scenario, registered Republicans will vote for their party, likewise for the Democrats. Unaffiliated voters have to choose one party, either Democrat or Republican in casting their votes.
“Usually voter turnout for a primary is light,” said Ruth Huneycutt, director of Davidson County Board of Elections. “This year could be different if the presidential nominees for the Republicans and Democrats have primaries.”
Huneycutt is urging citizens to get out and vote for commissioners as well as other offices.
“That is their local government,” she said. “They are the ones who set the priorities, the tax rates and are the bosses of the county so to speak.”
According to the Davidson County Board of Elections, more than 48 percent of registered voters in the county are Republicans, about 34 percent are Democrats and nearly 18 percent are unaffiliated.
The last day to register to vote in the primary is April 11. Beginning March 17, absentee voting for the primary election begins and will run until April 29. Early voting for the primary will run from April 17 to May 3.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.