Political Notebook: Candidates for commissioner lining up

This month, campaign signs supporting Craig Pierce for county commissioner have begun to appear around Rowan County — and on Pierce’s car.

Pierce, who serves on the county planning board, last ran for office in the 2010 race for the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education.

Two town aldermen also have registered committees with the Board of Elections — Tony Hilton of Landis and Bill Feather of Granite Quarry. This will be Feather’s second bid for Rowan County commissioner after receiving the least votes of 11 candidates in 2010.

The filing period for elections this year is Feb. 13-29.

Hagan’s tweet on McCain

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) is saving a seat next to Sen. John McCain for Tuesday’s State of the Union address.

This week, Hagan announced on Twitter that she and the Arizona Republican will cross the aisle to sit together as President Barack Obama addresses the nation.

Twitter user SenatorHagan wrote Tuesday, “Proud to sit w/my friend @SenJohnMcCain for State of the Union next week; we can’t afford to let #bipartisanship be a dirty word in DC #SOTU”

Back in the classroom

Rep. Larry Kissell will pay a visit to Kannapolis Middle School at 9 a.m. Monday to speak to a group of eighth-grade students.

Kissell, a Democrat who represents North Carolina’s 8th District, was invited by a teacher to talk about his role in Congress and the nation’s government as a whole. According to his communications director, Kissell is a former social studies teacher himself and looks forward to the visit.

Gunning for Congress

Vernon Robinson’s Congressional campaign is breaking out the big guns.

It will exhibit this weekend at the Lexington Gun and Knife Show, located at 306 New Highway 64 East (former Victory Cadillac) in Lexington. Campaign workers will also be registering attendees to vote.

Robinson, a Republican candidate for North Carolina’s 8th District, says he is a strong supporter of gun rights and the 2nd Amendment. In September, he held a Machine Gun Social in Concord.

Great website, Dan

Dan Forest’s campaign website in his race for lieutenant governor received national recognition this week from Campaigns & Elections Magazine.

The publication selected his website, managed by Charlotte-based Red Stampede, as a 2012 Reed Awards finalist for best statewide campaign website.

The Reed Awards recognize excellence in campaign management, political consulting and political design. Winners will be announced at the Reed Awards Dinner on Feb. 3 in Washington, D.C.

— Compiled by Karissa Minn