More local incumbents than challengers signed up as the filing period opened yesterday for county and state offices.
Still, contests are guaranteed in at least four local races so far, according to filings on record at the Forsyth County Board of Elections. Filing will end at noon on Feb. 26.
Gardenia M. Henley, who managed Vivian Burke's campaign for Winston-Salem City Council in 2009, is trying for the N.C. House seat held by Rep. Earline Parmon, D-72nd, who is running for her fifth term in office. Henley and Parmon, both Democrats, filed yesterday and will face off in the Democratic primary on May 4.
Other Forsyth County legislators filing yesterday and running unopposed so far include state Sen. Linda Garrou, D-32nd, and state representatives Larry Brown, R-73rd; Bill McGee, R-75th; and Larry Womble, D-71st.
State senators and representatives serve two-year terms.
Incumbent Sheriff Bill Schatzman will face a Democratic opponent in the fall, although he faces no opposition so far from within his party. Republican Schatzman and Democrat Jerry Herron both filed yesterday. Herron retired from the sheriff's office in 2005.
Two Democrats are vying for the post of clerk of superior court: incumbent Nick Gordon, who was appointed to the position after the retirement of incumbent Terry Holbrook, and Susan Speaks Frye.
Three candidates, including one incumbent, are in the running so far for two seats in District 1 of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education.
Incumbent Vic Johnson and challengers Jimmie Lee Bonham and John Davenport Jr. are running to represent District 1.
Three of the four incumbent county commissioners whose terms are up filed yesterday.
Commissioners Beaufort Bailey and Walter Marshall, both Democrats, filed to return to their seats in District A, and incumbent Republican Debra Conrad filed for District B.
For the at-large seat on the county board of commissioners, Republican challenger Mark Baker filed for the seat now held by Democrat Ted Kaplan, who has not filed. Baker is on the village council in Tobaccoville.
The state's campaign season officially began statewide yesterday, with all 170 seats in the General Assembly up for election as well as U.S. representatives and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.
Election cycles of 2006 and 2008 were good for Democrats, who used their fundraising advantage and voter unhappiness with President Bush and the economy to knock off three GOP incumbents in federal races, including Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Democrats also retained the governorship and expanded their advantage in the legislature.
But recent GOP victories in Massachusetts, Virginia and New Jersey, along with voter worries about the sour economy and health-care legislation pushed by President Obama, have led some state Republicans to believe 2010 will be better.
Libertarian Mike Beitler, a professor at UNC Greensboro who wants to unseat Burr, is banking on voters being displeased with both Democrats and Republicans. At least three Democrats and one Republican in addition to Burr are expected to enter the race.
"I think it's time for another alternative because we have big spending from both parties," Beitler said.
wyoung@wsjournal.com
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