Does anyone want to be a Rowan County Commissioner?

The 2016 commissioners race stands to make history for the fewest candidates ever to file. So far, incumbents Mike Caskey and Craig Pierce are the only ones to officially file for the race. If no one files for county commissioner before Monday, Pierce and Caskey will breeze through the primary and likely win the general election.

In order to run as a Republican or Democrat, candidates are required to file for the March 2016 primaries by Monday at noon. Otherwise, the only option is to take the route chosen by Raymond Coltrain, Gene Miller and Chris Cohen in 2014. The trio each gathered enough signatures — at least 4 percent of the total registered voters in Rowan — to be placed on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for county commissioner.

Candidates who choose to run unaffiliated must turn in their signatures in by June 2016. Candidates who lose in the primary, however, can’t later run as an unaffiliated.

When asked about the lack of candidates, Pierce said it was a sign the Republican Party, and perhaps the entire county, is satisfied with previous decisions made by incumbents. When he and Caskey ran for office in 2012, the Rowan-Salisbury School System central office and airport de-annexation were hot-button issues. Pierce said there’s not any similar, controversial topics in the 2016 race. Both he and Caskey say they’re running again to continue current projects, such as economic development.

“Unless you just feel this burning desire, there’s really no issues to run on,” Pierce said. “The last thing you want to do is go to a forum or debate and talk about how great the other two commissioners have done since taking office.”

Pierce didn’t mention commissioners’ unanimous vote earlier this year to appeal a court ruling declaring the board’s prayer practices illegal. It generated significant controversy, but a majority of Rowan residents who spoke publicly to commissioners supported the appeal.

Pierce said commissioners have completed big projects and fixed issues other groups of county commissioners have neglected, such as policy reform at the animal shelter. If Pierce and Caskey make it to Monday’s filing deadline without a single other competitor, it would be a first, according to Rowan County elections records. In every election since 1968, more candidates have filed to run for commissioner than available positions.

Caskey couldn’t be reached Wednesday afternoon to comment on the lack of candidates.

Rowan County Elections Director Nancy Evans said her office recently received a call questioning whether filing for the primary races started in February, when it has occurred in previous years. This year the North Carolina General Assembly voted to move the primary elections up in an effort to make North Carolina an important state for the 2016 presidential primary. Evans said the change may have confused some Rowan resident who might have run for county commissioner.

In many years, both parties held primary elections for county commissioner. If no one else files, Pierce and Caskey won’t even appear on the March 2016 primary ballot. They’ll automatically advance to the general election.

Not only is the list of candidates who’ve filed at the board of elections slim, but chatter between local party leaders and potential candidates is nearly non-existent. Rowan Republican Party Chairman Stephen Kidd said he isn’t aware of any other person interested in challenging Pierce or Caskey. Rowan Democratic Party Chairman Geoffrey Hoy said some local Democrats have talked about running, but there’s nothing concrete.

Pierce said there’s a chance a Republican who isn’t active in the party files for county commissioner.

Former county commissioners chairman Jim Sides has fueled speculation he would run by placing decals on his van that read “2016?” and “Do you miss me yet?” Sides, a Republican, served with Pierce and Caskey during a two year period ending in December 2014 after Sides lost his re-election bid. Pierce served as vice chairman during a period when Sides was chairman.

When asked recently whether he intended to run for county commissioner again, Sides declined to comment.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.