Staff report
Filing for five county-related offices and more than a dozen state offices will begin in two weeks.
The filing period opens at noon on Monday, Feb. 12, and will end at noon on Friday, Feb. 29.
The county offices include two seats on the Board of Commissioners currently held by Arnold Chamberlain and Jim Sides, both Republicans.
Candidates will also file for the N.C. House seats now held by Democrat Lorene Coates, Republican Fred Steen, Republican, as well as the N.C. Senate seat held by Andrew Brock, a Republican.
Candidates for county commissioner and the legislative seats will file at the Rowan County Board of Elections.
Elections Director Nancy Evans urged anyone considering filing or who has questions to call the elections office at 704-216-8140.
She urged potential first time candidates to check their voter registration and avoid mix-ups.
A man who planned to run as a Republican for county commissioner discovered that he is registered unaffiliated and therefore can’t file as a Republican.
State law prohibits anyone registered unaffiliated to file as a candidate in the primary.
Registration must be changed for at least 90 days prior to the filing period
Local election officials are vigilant in checking a candidate’s registration and any recent changes.
Candidates for more than a dozen state and federal posts will file with the State Board of Elections in Raleigh. Those offices include U.S. Senate ó including the seat held by Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a Republican from Salisbury ó and the U.S. House in all districts.
State offices up for election include governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, superintendent of public instruction, agriculture commissioner, insurance commissioner and labor commissioner.
More information on the state and federal offices, including filing fees, is available on the N.C. State Board of Elections Web site at www.sboe.state.nc.us.